Morecambe 1 Kettering 0

Last updated : 21 December 2002 By Footymad Previewer

Morecambe maintained there excellent run of form at home with a narrow victory over bottom club Kettering Town.

Wayne Curtis was the ShrimpsÂ’ goal hero with his 10th of the season after 33 minutes proving to be the decider.

Curtis, who was the ConferenceÂ’s top scorer in the early stages of the season before being out of action with an ankle injury, scored his first goal since September with a neatly taken finish.

Lee Culkin crossed from the left and as the Kettering defence and goalkeeper hesitated the striker nipped in to slot the ball into the empty net.

From there Morecambe dominated the play but were guilty of wasting a host of excellent chances.

Ian Bowling saved well on a couple of occasions from Curtis and Lee Elam but should have had no chance with other efforts that flew towards his goal.

On the stroke of half time Ryan-Zico Black rounded the Kettering keeper and shot goalwards from an acute angle, but saw his effort well cleared off the line by the covering Lee Howarth.

MorecambeÂ’s best chance of extending their lead came on 63 minutes but Gary Thompson spurned a golden opportunity.

The influential Stewart Drummond saw a shot from 25 yards hit the post and with the keeper on the floor Thompson blazed over the bar from just ten yards out.

Although on the back foot for much of the game, Kettering should have scored themselves from a 53rd minute breakaway.

Player boss Carl Shutt was put through by Simon Parker that saw two efforts in succession well saved by Craig Mawson before his third effort was cleared off the line by Jim Bentley.

At the other end Morecambe came close again when Thompson volleyed wide and Curtis denied by Bowling low to his right.

But the last real opening of the game came for Kettering, when Parker found himself in space on the left but saw his effort well saved again by Mawson.