Match 82
Ground #: 10 (7th visit)
Ground: Christie Park
Competition: English League 2 Play-off SF 2nd Leg
Kick Off: 7:45pm
Cost: £10 (student)
Programme: £3
Attendance: 4,972
Morecambe 2
Duffy 81’, Artell 90’
Dagenham and Redbridge 1
Benson 85’
DAGENHAM WIN 7-2 ON AGG
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PREVIOUS VISITS: 08/05/10 – Morecambe 1-0 Aldershot Town (English League 2)
After Dagenham went into this game, only 6-0 up on aggregate, there was only going to be one winner in the overall tie, but Morecambe still wanted to say goodbye to Christie Park on a high. I also wanted to say good-bye to my biggest and best season yet as this was game number #34 for 2009/2010 and so was hoping for a decent 90 minutes, and who knows!? Maybe the greatest comeback ever? (Don’t be silly)
For 45 minutes, at least, we did see a lot of huffing and puffing from both sides but no goals scored as I really began to fear I’d end the season with a 0-0. Dag and Red also were clearly on top in the first half as Morecambe, for the 2nd game running, seemed to let the occasion get the better of them as firstly Romain Vincelot’s shot forced Morecambe goalie Barry Roche into a decent save. Then Abu Ogogo struck the edge of the bar as his speculative volley almost flew straight in while Roche then produced a world-class one handed save from Scott Doe and Morecambe managed to keep the Daggers out. The Shrimps themselves did have the odd chance, as mental goalie Tony Roberts (more on him later) produced a decent save from a Moss freekick. At half-time, the tie was well and truly over, but we all wondered if Morecambe could make some sort of game of it for the final 45 at CP.
The second half was thankfully a lot better as Morecambe really went at the Daggers in an attempt to bring one last hurrah at CP. Tony Roberts was now right behind the main batch of Morecambe fans in the North Stand and the banter between them was great as Roberts was giving as good as he got, all in great humour which was great to see. Phil Jevons nearly opened the scoring on 60 mins when his great chip just clipped the top of the bar and went over as it seemed to be one of those nights as Morecambe looked like they wouldn’t score. It very nearly looked like an evening to forget around the 70 minute mark when a great Daggers counter-attack saw Vincelot play a great ball across the box which was turned in by Benson on the line, however while he and the 300 odd Daggers fans were celebrating it was given as offside. TV replays shows he was nowhere near. Morecambe then went on the rampage just to try and find that elusive goal and on 81 minutes they found it when Curtis’ ball was headed on in the penalty area and found Mark Duffy who volleyed into the ground and bottom corner to give Morecambe the lead. Fans got really excited when it was nearly 2 as Mullin nearly converted a low cross as Morecambe fans began to really believe they might even score another. That belief ended on 85 minutes when Danny Green’s great ball from the byline found Paul Benson at the back post, who headed from about a yard out. Morecambe did get a winner though in injury time when a deep ball in found Dave Artell who planted a header away from Roberts and into the bottom corner.
A mini-pitch invasion at the final whistle after Morecambe ensured a winning end to Christie Park. Good luck to Dag and Red in their play-off final against Rotherham Utd, a very tight one to call. Morecambe can now look forward to a new future at the Globe Arena (expect a blog report from the building site there over summer when I have nothing to do!) and an official opening friendly against “a Premiership club” and hopefully a game that I’ll still be up in Lancashire for to start my 2010/11 season with a bang. A season that started in the pouring North Devon rain ended up with a farewell to Christie Park. Sadly no Wembley finale, but a great season nonetheless which I’ll round up fully in early June with my plans (although god knows what these are at the moment) of 2010/11. Have a great summer! (Except England).
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Match Ratings:
- Match: 6/10 (livened up at the end)
- Value for money: 7/10 (decent league prices)
- Ground: 8/10 (will be sorry to see it go)
- Atmosphere: 8/10 (great noise from North Stand)
- Food: 8/10 (another good burger here)
- Programme: 7/10 (normal edition this time, good effort)
- Referee: E.Ilderton – 6/10 (not a lot to do)
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