Morecambe held by Cheltenham in stalemate

Posted Sunday, August 18, 2019 by PA

Morecambe and Cheltenham shared the spoils in a goalless Sky Bet League Two draw at the Globe Arena.

A game that lacked skill and inspiration saw both sides struggle to create chances with neither goalkeeper really troubled.

The game started briskly with Luke Varney heading a Sean Long cross straight at Barry Roche from eight yards out before a long period of inactivity.

Lewis Alessandra put in a cross from the right that was just too far ahead of Kevin Ellison and Steven Old headed an Andrew Tutte corner well wide before a frantic final two minutes of the half.

With time running out Cheltenham had a golden chance to open the scoring when the ball broke free to Gavin Reilly at the far post after the home defence failed to deal with Ben Tozer’s long throw but he failed to find the target.

One minute later it was Morecambe’s turn to threaten with Alessandra hitting the crossbar from 12 yards after the home side’s best move of the game.

The second half started with Roche saving smartly from a Reilly cross that was deflected goalwards but from there the best chance fell to Morecambe’s Cole Stockton who volleyed a John O’Sullivan cross just over from the edge of the box.

Cheltenham forced a string of late corners with Conor Thomas seeing a volley land on the roof of the Morecambe net before an injury-time save from Scott Flinders from Andrew Tutte’s long range strike.