|
The scoreline wasn't the only notable aspect of today's game. Both Dean Overson and Tommy Taylor got starts following season disrupting injuries. There were also first competitive appearances for Irish centre-half Neil Yadolahi who started, and schoolboy defender Alex Coleman, who joined the game from the bench.
It was a rip-roaring start to the match. Burnley attacked from the off, passing the ball quickly and purposefully. We forced a corner on the left side and Joe McKee clipped the ball deep onto the head of Yadolahi. He headed towards goal but it ricocheted down into the path of Dom Knowles, allowing the captain to smash into the roof of the net.
The game restarted and we pushed again. Morecambe were being pulled all over and gaps were opening across the pitch. Liam Newman received the ball on the left and burst forward. He looked up and curled over a beautiful cross into the corridor of uncertainty giving the onrushing Ross Wilson a simple task of converting for our second goal in the opening five minutes.
We were playing good football with Newman unfortunate on two occasions, but Morecambe still managed to get a couple of chances. The first led to a top save from keeper Danny McDonald as a close range header was acrobatically tipped over. He couldn't do much when the visitors pulled a goal back though, even though he himself was unlucky to concede. We gave away a cheap free kick on the right wing and when it was swung in to the box it broke to a Shrimpers forward at the front post and he got off a snap-shot. McDonald reacted brilliantly to save this but it dropped to another Morecambe forward who managed to bundle the ball home.
The concession was clearly not in the script and we immediately stepped up a gear and hit back. Wilson raided down the right wing and put over a cross which found T. Taylor at the far post in acres of space. The ball was bobbling but he found time to control and fire home through a crowd of players before anyone reacted. The match was only around 20 minutes old and some visiting players were already starting to get into heated arguments with each other.
With the half hour mark approaching we had made it 4-1. Again the source was the right wing marauding of Wilson. He tormented the full back then swung over a perfect cross which Newman met to head past the keeper. He could have had another before half time with another chance made by Wilson but he just shot wide. These two lads in particular were very impressive in the first half.
The second half began with a rare chance for Morecambe. A long range shot was fired in and it took a full length dive from McDonald to divert the strike away from goal. We then went back onto the attack and T. Taylor probably should have had his second but took a little too long when fed in the left corner of the box.
The manner of our play meant you felt it would only be a matter of time before we extended our lead further and surely enough we did so about ten minutes into the half. Dave Lynch won the ball in the middle of the park and looked up seeing Wilson unmarked at the far post. The cross went over and Wilson knocked it back into the middle, allowing Knowles to finish.
Within minutes it was 6 and a hat trick from Knowles to boot. Attacking in numbers the ball came to T. Taylor who dissected the defence and found Knowles who had timed his run to perfection. He dropped his shoulder and rounded the keeper, rolling the ball into an unguarded net. It was the last action that these two had as they were then replaced by Joe Jackson and James Taylor.
In the past when we've made a couple of changes it has often disrupted us and led to a long lull in our play. No danger of that today. James Taylor added to the score after about 4 minutes on the pitch, hammering home at the far post when a right wing cross had made its way through to him. Dean Overson then left the field with Coleman replacing him.
It was then the turn of the schoolboy to make his mark as no sooner as he had entered the fray he played a fine deep pass into the path of McKee. The Scot had a sublime first touch to kill the ball and he strode on and gave the keeper the eyes, sitting him down and casually rolling it past him to make it 8-1.
You had to feel a little pity for Morecambe who had been taught a footballing lesson and their heads had completely dropped. We had some hungry lads though and they weren't finished yet. Jackson picked up the ball on the left side of the pitch and cut in, feeding Newman on the edge of the box. It looked like the ball had been played slightly behind him, stopping his run and putting his back to goal. It didn't phase him though as he spun and fired across goal, finding the corner.
There were still about 15 minutes to go and we were all hoping to see a double figure haul. It wasn't to be however and we will gladly take the 9-1 final score. Newman in particular will be disappointed as he was still getting in positions but others were going for glory instead of looking for him. He was looking sharp today and a hat trick would have been just rewards. In saying that though, he'd have had to fight his captain for the match ball!
Team:- Danny McDonald, Dean Overson (Alex Coleman), Jake McEneaney, Curtis Woods, Neil Yadolahi, Dave Lynch, Joe McKee, Ross Wilson, Tommy Taylor (James Taylor), Dom Knowles (Joe Jackson), Liam Newman.Sub not used:- J. Thewliss.