Morecambe 4 Tamworth 0

Last updated : 06 December 2003 By Footymad Previewer

Morecambe made it three wins from four games with a comfortable victory over struggling Tamworth.

Two goals in each half gave the home side the points against a Tamworth team who battled hard but made little impression on the day.

Both sides found it tough to get going in the early stages with Tamworth looking the brighter with new signing Paul Barnes and Scott Rickards both seeing attempts on goal comfortably gather by Morecambe keeper Craig Mawson.

But after the early shots Morecambe began to find their feet with striker Danny Carlton firing an overhead kick just wide before the Shrimps took the lead on 27 minutes.

A free-kick from the halfway line found the head of Jim Bentley who directed his effort downwards past on-loan Tamworth keeper Richard Brush.

Morecambe then began to dominate and teenage striker Carlton was twice put through on goal, but twice denied by good saves from Brush.

Terry McFlynn saw a volley just clear the crossbar before Morecambe extended their lead on 38 minutes.

David Perkins produced a fine through ball for Carlton to run on to and this time he made no mistake with a fine right foot finish.

Tamworth hit back in the final stages of the half with Barnes going close on two occasions before Marcus Ebdon curled an effort inches wide of Morecambe goal.

The second half saw Tamworth start brightly with Richard Follett sending a fierce volley just over the bar before Rickards almost took advantage of a superb Scott Goodwin ball that just held up for the onrushing winger.

Then Morecambe came back to take charge once again.

Garry Thompson was again denied by Brush before Carlton fired a good chance weakly goalwards from just eight yards out.

Morecambe maintained the pressure however and finally added a third on 65 minutes.

A Jamie Murphy free-kick was headed down by Thompson and Dean Howell drilled in the loose ball from eight yards out.

Tamworth's misery was compounded when Lee Ayres was sent off for a second bookable offence on 73 minutes, when he foolishly kicked the ball straight at the man he had just fouled, Carlton.

To ad insult to injury the home side added a fourth goal in injury time when a low right-wing Thompson cross was converted by substitute Ryan Sugden.