Morecambe pull further clear of drop zone after overcoming MK Dons

Posted Wednesday, March 13, 2019 by PA

Morecambe moved 11 points clear of the Sky Bet League Two relegation zone with a superb 4-2 victory over promotion-chasing MK Dons at a windswept Globe Arena.

Jim Bentley’s side followed up their 3-0 win over Forest Green with another fine performance to shock Paul Tisdale’s side.

With the wind behind them took the lead on 21 minutes.

Rhys Oates provided the assist with a great run down the left to cross for Richie Bennett to direct a header into the bottom left-hand corner of Stuart Moore’s goal from eight yards.

Alex Kenyon again went close with a header that Moore saved well before the Dons’ keeper was beaten for a second time four minutes from the break.

Morecambe right back Zak Mills put a dangerous ball into the MK Dons area and it skimmed off the head of Ousseynou Cisse and looped over Moore into the top-right hand corner of the net.

The Dons dominated possession in the early stages of the second half but were undone for a third time on 56 minutes by a stunning Bennett strike after he turned on the edge of the area and curled a left-foot shot past Moore’s right hand.

That goal sparked a comeback from Paul Tisdale’s side with substitute Kieran Agard pulling one back 20 minutes from time when he deflected a right-wing cross past Mark Halstead from 12 yards.

Agard then added a second six minutes later when he took advantage of a mistake from Morecambe keeper Halstead to poke the loose ball home from close range to set up a thrilling finale.

As the visitors pushed forward they left gaps at the back with Bennett denied a hat-trick when his header hit the crossbar before the Shrimps added a fourth when Aaron Collins ran on to Kevin Ellison’s neat throughball and rounded Moore to slot the ball into the empty net.