Morecambe 2 Barnet 1

Last updated : 14 March 2009 By Footymad Previewer
Morecambe survived a late Barnet charge to extend their unbeaten run to 11 games.

Sammy McIlroy's side passed 50 points for the season after winning a game which was decided after three goals in a five-minute period.

The game itself saw a scrappy start with both sides struggling on a bobbly pitch. Barnet keeper Jake Cole was called into action on 24 minutes to save bravely at the feet of Neil Wainwright, before veteran Paul Furlong headed straight at Barry Roche on a Barnet counter attack.

The game came to life just after the half hour when Dave Artell headed Morecambe into the lead. Michael Twiss swung over a right-wing corner which Cole missed and Artell was on hand to score his second goal of the season from six yards.

Barnet were back in it just a minute later, however, when top scorer John O'Flynn got in behind a sleeping defence to turn Albert Adomah's cross past Roche at the near post for the equaliser.

But Morecambe got their noses in front again on 38 minutes when Wayne Curtis cut inside from the left and fired a weak shot that beat the sluggish Cole low to his right.

Morecambe continued the pressure at the start of the second half with Artell forcing Cole into a neat save, before the Bees' keeper pulled off an excellent save to deny Twiss from close range after the striker got on to the end of a Garry Hunter corner.

But from there Barnet dominated the final stages and tried valiantly to get back into the game.

Former York man Neal Bishop whistled a shot inches over the bar from 25 yards and Ismail Yakubu then headed just over from Joe Devera's excellent right-wing cross.

Yannick Bolasie should have equalised on 78 minutes when O'Flynn put him clear in the box, but he made a hash of his effort and the chance went begging.

Bishop tested Roche with another 25-yarder, but the Morecambe keeper smothered the shot well as the Shrimps claimed their seventh home win of the season.