[ 23 Mar 24 ] Morecambe v GILLS Match Thread

[Garawa]

- Of the 11 meetings between the Gills and Morecambe, the Gills have won 6 and lost just 1. Morecambe's only win was a home win in October 2011 and the Gills are unbeaten in the 6 games since, winning 4 of them.
- The Gills are winless in 5 visits to Morecambe since their only win on their first visit back in January 2009. They have lost 1 and drawn 3 (including their last 2) of their last 4 away games at Morecambe with all draws ending 1-1.
- Morecambe have won 2 and lost 4 of their last 10 home league and cup games. The Gills have won 4 and lost 5 of their last 10 on the road.
- Morecambe started the season unbeaten in 8 home league matches, then went winless in 6 before winning 2 and drawing 1 of the next 3. They lost their most recent home game starting a run of 3 consecutive league defeats home and away in which they conceded 11 goals (1-3, 3-5 and 1-3).
- In all competitions, Morecambe won 10 of their opening 19 games (including 5 in a row) and they lost 5 of them. They then lost 4 in a row in a spell of 13 games which produced 2 wins and 7 defeats. 6 wins and 2 defeats followed in the 10 games after before losing the last 3.
- Morecambe have a goal difference of -11 for the first halves of league games, the worst total in League 2. They have scored 2 goals in 8 league games before the break whilst the Gills have scored 2 in their last 9.
- Morecambe have the joint 7th worst total of shots on target faced and average 4.76 per league game. At 5.41, Crawley are averaging the most however Morecambe's 36 in their last 5 games averages 7.2 per game. 7 shots on target is the most in a Gills league game this season.

(15:01) EFL Sky Bet League 2: Morecambe FC v Gillingham FC - Kick Off [ 4 - 2 - 3 - 1 ]

(15.08) A Gills corner causes panic and Morecambe cannot clear the ball past the 6 yard box. As its headed forward again, Hawkins heads it in from less than 2 yards but is flagged offside.

(15.11) GOAL! Morecambe 1-0 Gillingham: Slew

(15.18) GOAL! Morecambe 1-1 Gillingham: Hawkins

(15.24) The Gills pass the ball about well in the box to find the spaces needed for a shot. The final part of the move sees a Williams shot blocked with the keeper pulled out of position but he is flagged offside.

(15.34) The Gills have a free kick around 8 yards down from the corner flag. Mahoney floats it directly to the underside of the crossbar and the 'keeper just about punches it from under the bar and over for a corner.

(15.42) Slew crosses but the ball is carried a little by the wind. Morris reaches with both hands as the ball grazes the top of the netting and the Gills have a goal kick.

(15.46) The referee adds on 2 additional minutes.

(15.48) Half time 1-1 [47:02]

(16.03) The second half kicks off.

(16.14) The Gills get stretched but each deflection comes back to Morecambe. A cross to the far post finds Slew's header just a couple of yards away from goal and a brilliant point blank save denies the striker a second.

(16.20) Tutonda crosses for Morecambe and finds a striker in loads of space, He side foots it first time rather than going for power which allows Morris to palm it away for a corner.

(16.22) GOAL! Morecambe 2-1 Gillingham: Brown

(16.25) A bit of head tennis by the Gills in the Morecambe box puts the defence at full stretch and ends with Ogie heading high over the bar from only 5 yards out.

(16.31) GOAL! Morecambe 2-2 Gillingham: Dieng

(16.36) Morecambe pile on the pressure in search for a third. Amongst a gaggle of players, Morris punches away surrounded by red. Finally, since his January move, Josh Andrews comes on for his Gills debut.

(16.38) Tutonda blasts a fierce shot across the face of goal and just wide.

(16.39) A brilliant deep free kick by Mahoney drops for Ehmer who drives into the box but can't quite get room to shoot and its desperately blocked for a corner.

(16.40) Slew, on a yellow card already for raising his hands, does so again on Malone who is booked. Despite being right by the dugout, the ref talks to the captains instead and ignores Slew who should have seen red for twice putting his hands on a Gills player.

(16.44) GOAL! Morecambe 2-3 Gillingham: Mahoney

(16.48) The Gills corner goes to the back post where Ehmer heads into the side netting. An additional 6 minutes will be played.

(16.53) With the 'keeper out of goal, Mahoney goals for goal inside his own half but misses the target by quite a few yards.

(16.54) FULL TIME 2-3 [98:03]

Attendance: 3,408 (208)
Position: 8th
Referee: Paul Howard
Match highlights: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=12agXVJexl0
BBC Match Report: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/68583331