Morecambe VS Newport County – Match Report

3pm GMT Kick Off, Wembley Stadium, League Two Playoff Final

An extra time penalty from Carlos Mendes Gomes was the decider as Morecambe secure League One football next season

A game with few chances saw Morecambe edge Newport County at Wembley after a penalty was awarded in the 105th minute. Mendes Gomes took on the pressure and put away the crucial penalty.

Morecambe came at Newport from the get go, as Carlos Mendes Gomes tried to trick out Tom King on one occasion, and in another situation, a ball was played into a dangerous position which King had to deal with. However, the Welshmen dealt with the early chances.

Newport then had their first chance of the game, and it came agonisingly close to giving the Welsh team the lead. A long throw in was met by Scott Bennett. Morecambe keeper, Kyle Letheren misjudged the throw and left the midfielder with a great chance of opening the scoreline. Luckily for the keeper, his header was just off target.

King did well to deal with Cole Stockton’s dangerous cross. Stockton moved off the Newport backline and fired a ball into a dangerous area. He tried to find Aaron Wildig, but the keeper was there to snuff out the danger.

Morecambe had another chance just before half time. Mendes Gomes made space and slotted the ball into the path of Liam Gibson. The fullback got his shot past the keeper, but Liam Shephard was their to clear the threat.

Then it was Newport who went close by Bennett. He tried his luck from outside the box and it got a deflection. Letheren had no chance of saving the shot if it was on target, but the shot hit the side netting as the half came to a close.

As the second half began, it was Newport that began with the early pressure. Once again, they came close to opening the scoring with Lewis Collins being the danger this time. He found space just outside the Morecambe area, and once again it was deflected. Letheren had to readjust his position, he did it in time and saved the shot.

Newport had much of the possession in the second half, but Morecambe still pushed for a goal. The Shrimp fans urged Ryan Cooney to shot. The rightback had a go from distance, which King had to parry away.

Despite the possession Newport had, they didn’t test Letheren a lot in the second half. However, Shepard nearly broke the deadlock. His left footed effort looked destined for the bottom corner. Letheren needed to get a hand to the shot, to stop Newport taking the lead late on.

There were little chances in the second half, as neither side could find a way through, so the game headed into extra time. The best chance of the game fell to Josh Labadie. After great play just outside the box, the midfielder found himself with a golden chance from just a few yards out. The keeper would have had no chance, but Labadie’s shot went over the bar.

In the first 30 seconds of the second half of extra time, Morecambe were awarded a penalty, despite it looking like the foul took place outside the box. Mendes Gomes stepped up to take the penalty and sent the keeper the wrong way, as he gave Morecambe the lead so late on in the game.

Newport continued to knock on the door until the final whistle, but Morecambe held onto the the win, and they will play League One football for the first time in their history. Newport face more heartbreak at Wembley, and will have at least another season in League Two.

Man Of The Match – Nathaniel Knight-Percival

Mendes Gomes was the hero for the Shrimps in the capital, but Knight-Percival was solid in securing the victory.

Morecambe faced a lot of pressure from Newport, but the 34-year-old made a series of blocks, interceptions and tackles to keep a clean sheet in the Final.

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