Morecambe 2 Scarborough 1

Last updated : 06 March 2004 By Footymad Previewer

Jamie Murphy was Morecambe's hero with an injury time winner against a struggling Scarborough.

In a controversial, incident-packed game Murphy's strike came just seconds after former Morecambe striker Mark Quayle had brought the Seadogs back into the game with a goal two minutes into injury time. It was an amazing end to what was an amazing game.

Most of the incidents were caused by a referee who was not up to the standard required by the Conference.

Time and time again he let niggly fouls go unpunished and that resulted in two mass brawls which eventually saw a player from either side get sent off.

For much of the game the football was secondary. But it was Morecambe who dominated for large periods.

Shrimps boss Jim Harvey was forced to make several changes to his starting line up but the youngsters he introduced, Nick Rogan and Garry Hunter, were at the hub of the action for much of the game.

It was Rogan who created the first real chance of the afternoon for Danny Carlton on 18 minutes but as he was about to shoot Steve Baker produced an excellent covering tackle.

Six minutes later Carlton was through again but saw his volley well saved by Leigh Walker.

Scarborough came into the game towards the end of the first half with Clint Marcelle's fierce volley blocked by his own player Chris Senior before Jimmy Kelly came close after robbing Murphy of possession.

It was the home side who struck first however on 43 minutes. After good work from Rogan, Kieron Walmsley curled in a cross to the near post and Carlton's diving header beat Walker.

The half ended with the home side pushing forward and Hunter being denied well by Walker before volleying just over from an acute angle.

The second half saw a number of controversial incidents with the first confrontation of the afternoon taking place just seconds after the restart. Walker produced a fine save from Hunter's close range header but as both sides fought for the loose ball tempers became frayed.

From there it was Scarborough who enjoyed the better chances with Quayle seeing a shot from an acute angle well tipped around the post by on loan Ian Dunbavin who then saved low from his right from the busy Chris Senior.

Then the game saw its second major incident when Karl Rose fouled Dean Howell. Howell retaliated and Baker also got involved as players from both sides converged but while Rose escaped without a card Baker and Howell both saw red.

Chances were then few and far between but on 90 minutes Ryan Sugden wasted a great chance to make it 2-0 when he shot wide with only Walker to beat.

He was made to pay when Quayle's looping header levelled the score on 92 minutes with a goal that looked set to give Scarborough a vital point.

But straight from the restart Stewart Drummond surged forward but was fouled foolishly by Jamie Sherlock on the edge of the box. Kieron Walmsley's dangerous free kick saw Sugden's header well saved by Walker but Murphy was on hand to poke home the loose ball and complete a dramatic end to a dramatic game.