This Tuesday, we play host to Ged Brannan’s Morecambe. We’ve had several memorable encounters with the Shrimps over the years, and to whet the appetite for Tuesday’s clash, we are hitting the rewind button and revisiting our 2-1 away victory in Lancashire from earlier in the campaign.
Seaside away days can be excellent in the height of summer, but a trip to Morecambe on a cold Tuesday night in November would test the mettle of even the most hardened of fans.
83 Exiles made the long trip up North for the game, with each and every one of them being rewarded for their efforts with a fantastic result.
After a lively opening ten minutes, the hosts, playing for the first time under the newly appointed Ged Brannan, struck the first blow. Adam Mayor played a fantastic ball into the box, met by on-loan striker Michael Mellon, who drove the ball low past Nick Townsend.
Morecambe would only be able to hang on to their lead for fifteen minutes. After teasing the travelling fans with an effort that high and wide, Will Evans made sure he gave them what they wanted at the second time of asking. Morecambe keeper Adam Smith made a good save from Omar Bogle, but there was nothing he could do to prevent Evans from following up to make it 1-1.
JJ McKiernan would give us a scare just before the half-time whistle, with the lively midfielder heading an effort off the crossbar.
We came out for the second half full of intent and broke the deadlock in the 57th minute. McLoughlin swung a free kick in, which was headed back across the box and met at the back post by an oncoming Seb Palmer-Houlden. The striker grabbing his first since returning from a spell on the sidelines.
The final thirty minutes of the game saw the lads perform professionally in freezing-cold conditions on the coast. Chances fell to Omar Bogle and Bryn Morris to make the victory more comfortable, while the host's only real threat came from a late Adam Mayor effort.
The Exiles completed a successful comeback which was later dedicated to the 83 hardened souls that made the mammoth trip from South Wales by Manager Graham Coughlan.
You can relive the clash by watching the match highlights HERE.
Secure your tickets for tomorrow evening's clash by clicking HERE.