Preview: Morecambe

24 December 2018

Setting the scene…

Tranmere Rovers are back at Prenton Park for a Boxing Day Sky Bet League Two fixture at home to Morecambe.

Micky Mellon’s side are ninth in the league following on from Saturday’s 2-1 defeat at promotion-chasing Bury.

Nicky Maynard and Caolan Lavery were on target in the second half for the Shakers at Gigg Lane, with Ritchie Sutton pulling one back for TRFC in injury-time.

Jim Bentley’s Morecambe head to the Wirral after beating Cambridge United 3-0 at the Globe Arena courtesy of strikes in the final half hour from Vadine Oliver, Andrew Tutte and Kevin Ellison, a result which sees the Shrimps six points clear of the drop zone.

The Shrimps’ season so far

Under the management of Bentley, who has been in charge on the Lancashire coast since 2011, Morecambe are currently 19^th in the Sky Bet League Two standings.

From their 23 games to date so far this term, the Shrimps have gained 23 points in the opening half of the season, as the campaign reaches its halfway stage.

Winning seven of their fixtures, Morecambe’s recent 3-0 win over Cambridge United earned a first victory in the league since November.

Should they gain three points at Tranmere, Morecambe could move up to 16th if results go in their favour.

One to watch

Tranmere will need to keep an eye on Morecambe forward AJ Leitch-Smith when the Shrimps make the journey to Prenton Park.

Leitch-Smith began his playing career with hometown club Crewe Alexandra, coming through the youth system at Gresty Road.

Loans followed at Halifax Town, Newcastle Town, Icelandic side IBV and Curzon Ashton before establishing himself at Crewe, where he made 103 appearances and scored 19 goals for the Railwaymen during six-years as a professional in Cheshire.

He signed for Yeovil in the summer of 2014, spending a year at the club before swapping Huish Park for Vale Park in 2015, when he signed for Port Vale.

He scored 11 goals during his only season (2015/16) in Staffordshire, and in June 2016 he left the Valiants to make the move to Shrewsbury Town.

Over a two-year stay with the Salop, where he was signed by current TRFC boss Mellon at the New Meadow, Leitch-Smith made 16 appearances for the Shropshire outfit.

Leitch-Smith also spent time on loan at Scottish Premiership side Dundee, turning out 28 times at Dens Park in 2017/18, scoring six goals.

Following his departure from Shrewsbury, the 28-year-old Leitch-Smith returned to the North West to link up with Bentley’s Morecambe, penning a one-year-contract at the Globe Arena.

And since his arrival at Morecambe, Leitch-Smith leads the way at the summit of the club’s goal-scoring charts with six strikes to his name.

Tickets

Fancy watching some affordable, festive football? Well Prenton Park is the place to be on Wednesday afternoon, so come and cheer Micky’s lads on to three points as Rovers play host to the Shrimps.

Tickets for TRFC’s home game with Morecambe on Boxing Day can be purchased here: https://www.trfctickets.co.uk/

Supporters can also purchase their tickets for upcoming Tranmere matches by clicking through to this website. Please note, tickets for our FA Cup third round tie at home to Tottenham Hotspur next month have been made available to buy for supporters who have purchased a ticket for the Boxing Day game against Morecambe up until after the final whistle on Wednesday.

Supporters with a Morecambe ticket should either enter their Morecambe ticket order number when purchasing a Tottenham ticket online at www.trfctickets.co.uk or present their Morecambe ticket when purchasing their Tottenham ticket in person.

Any supporters paying cash on the turnstiles against Morecambe will be issued with a voucher which they can present after the match in the Club Shop to entitle them to purchase a Tottenham ticket.

Match Coverage

Can’t make it to Rovers’ Boxing Day clash with Morecambe? Don’t worry as you can keep up with goings on at Prenton Park.

You can now sign up to Tranmere Rovers’ iFollow, which allows access to extended highlights and interviews with manager Micky Mellon and a player, after the game.

To sign up, click here

Alternatively, you can follow the action through our social media channels below, with full text coverage during the fixture, followed by a match report.

Twitter: @tranmererovers

Facebook: @trfcofficial

Instagram: @tranmererovers

Match Previews

Match Reports

Report: Tranmere 3-1 Morecambe

26 December 2018

First half goals from Cole Stockton, James Norwood and Jay Harris handed TRFC a deserved three points in a 3-1 victory against Morecambe at Prenton Park.

In front of nearly 7,500 fans inside Prenton Park, Rovers were in control from start to finish, with Morecambe scoring a consolation goal midway through the second half courtesy of full back Jordan Cranston.

Manager Micky Mellon was without captain Steve McNulty through injury, so Ritchie Sutton stepped in at the heart of the Rovers defence. A change in attack saw Stockton replace Paul Mullin, the latter named on the bench.

A blistering start from the hosts led to Mellon’s men taking the lead within four minutes. Winger Connor Jennings weaved his way past the Morecambe back line to find space to shoot, his shot cannoned off a visiting foot into the path of Stockton to rifle the ball beyond Mark Halstead.

Tranmere were in control of the game at Prenton Park in front of a bumper crowd, but Morecambe nearly dealt TRFC with a sucker punch as Sam Lavelle’s header was tipped over the cross from ex Shrimps goalkeeper Scott Davies, a wonderful save.

A couple of minutes later, Stockton could have had a second after collecting a through ball from Norwood, but the angle was too tight, and the striker was denied by the knees of Halstead.

However, Stockton soon turned provider for his strike partner Norwood to bury him Tranmere’s second in the 28^th minute. Defender Jake Caprice whipped in a delightful cross into the middle for Stockton to tee up Norwood to calmly slot into the bottom right hand corner.

Tranmere were enjoying themselves as they went in search of a third before half time as Harris hit a stunning volley from 25-yards which dropped on the roof of the net.

Chances were coming thick and fast for the hosts, Manny Monthe the next to have sight on goal, hitting wide from a corner.

But Rovers were knocking for a third and they soon got it on the stroke of half time, Harris left unmarked in the penalty box to power a header beyond Halstead after an excellent delivery from Liam Ridehalgh on the left-hand side.

Rovers headed down the tunnel at half time to a standing ovation and it was fully deserved after three fantastic goals.

Mellon’s men started the second half how they finished the first, on the front foot, as Norwood and Stockton both fired over within the first eight minutes.

Just before the hour mark, Monthe, who used to play as a striker during his early footballing days, went on a dazzling run, only to be illegally hacked down on the edge of the box. Up stepped Norwood, driving a ferocious strike, which Halstead could only push away.

Morecambe pulled a goal back in the 65th minute as left back Cranston hit an unstoppable strike into the top left-hand corner from 30-yards, giving Davies no chance.

TRFC nearly responded instantly to the minor set back, as Stockton held the ball up to turn away from his man exquisitely, only to drag his effort inches wide of the far post.

The first changes for Rovers came in the 82nd minute as Harvey Gilmour and Mullin replaced Sutton and Stockton.

Substitute Mullin had the last chance of the game for TRFC, striking inches wide of the goal from inside the penalty area but Rovers secured a deserved three points and will now move onto Saturday’s home encounter against Yeovil Town.

Tranmere: Davies, Ridehalgh, Sutton (Gilmour 82), Monthe, Harris, Norwood, Jennings, McCullough, Caprice, Ellis, Stockton (Mullin 82). Unused subs: George, Buxton, Smith, Bakayogo, Cole.

Attendance: 7,483 (215 away)

Match Reports

Ticket News

Reserve your Tottenham ticket by showing your support on Boxing Day

24 December 2018

Tickets for our FA Cup third round tie at home to Tottenham Hotspur next month have been made available to buy for supporters who have purchased a ticket for the Boxing Day game against Morecambe up until after the game on Wednesday.

Any supporters paying cash on the turnstiles against Morecambe will be issued with a voucher which they can present after the match in the Club Shop to entitle them to purchase a Tottenham ticket.

Ticket News

Tranmere Rovers Football Club

Standings

Preview: Morecambe

Report: Tranmere 3-1 Morecambe

Reserve your Tottenham ticket by showing your support on Boxing Day

Standings

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