Morecambe 1 - 1 Coventry City

[dutchman]

[dutchman]

Sky Blues force replay against the Shrimps



Coventry City will go into Monday’s second-round draw after battling back to earn a replay at the Globe Arena.

It was desperate stuff at times – particularly in the first half when the Sky Blues struggled to find any kind of rhythm. But, unwelcome as an extra fixture might be, it at least represents an improvement on the last two seasons and those infamous first-round exits at home to Worcester City and Northampton Town.

Suspensions and loan restrictions required Mark Venus to make five changes and dig deeper into his pool squad, the most interesting tweak seeing LA Galaxy’s Jack McBean make his first appearance on the bench.

Lee Burge was the only City player surviving from the squad that beat Morecambe 2-1 in the Cup four years ago and he had to make three crucial interventions in the first eight minutes as the Shrimps opened with a swagger that belied their miserable home record this season.

He dived full length to tip McGowan’s swerving 20-yarder round the post, bravely blocked at Stockton’s feet after another quick break and then got a touch to deflect the ball on to the bar as Molyneux challenged for Murphy’s near-post corner.

Fully occupied containing the bustling Shrimps City didn’t get a sniff of the home goal until the 33rd minute when Stevenson’s shot was charged down but seconds later they squandered a perfect opportunity as Rose beat the offside trap but pulled his low cross behind the poised Sordell and saw Reid slice his first-time effort wide.

Any thoughts of a turning the tide were rapidly dispelled however as Murphy’s shot grazed the post after Sterry had lost possession and the Rose tried his luck with a couple of 20-yarders, the first gathered by Burge and the second deflected over the bar.

Willis then blocked a Wildig blast as Morecambe pushed their shot count into double figures and City looked thoroughly relieved to hear the interval whistle after 45 minutes that made their first-half display against Chesterfield in midweek look positively polished

Venus pitched on McBean for the second half – the Californian earning brownie points for defying the bitter cold with a short-sleeved shirt – and the Sky Blues certainly made a far livelier start.

Sordell’s shot from just outside the box was deflected wide and, from the resultant corner, Roche did well to parry Turnbull’s header and then scramble to claim the ball at the substitute’s feet.

Seconds later McBean teed up Sordell for a shot that scraped the bar. But the Shrimps hit back strongly, Burge’s reflex save from Wildig providing only temporary relief as Stockton’s corner bobbled through to the far post for Winnard to smack home.

The Sky Blues survived another crisis when newly-arrived substitute Mullin sprinted clear down the middle but was halted three yards outside the area by the combined efforts of Burge and Willis, both of whom finished on the deck.

Morecambe demanded a foul but the referee called it an accidental collision and restarted play with a drop-ball – and the home sense of injustice was ramped up five minutes later when City conjured up an equaliser out of the blue, Sterry cutting inside from the left to curl a fine right-foot shot just inside the far post.

Burge reinforced his man-of-the-match credentials with another excellent save from Stockton, Barkhuizen heading the rebound over a gaping net.

Callum Maycock, City’s second debutant of the afternoon, almost made the perfect impact with a shot that was charged down but it was Morecambe pouring forward in extra time with Burge pulling off one final stop from Murphy.