Match report: Morecambe 1 Blackburn Rovers 2

The Shrimps followed up Tuesday’s reverse against Preston North End with another loss against a Lancashire side higher up the footballing pyramid.

Once again, Jim Bentley used the match to have a look at the vast majority of his squad.

Twenty of his 22-man line-up had a run out with only Michael Rose and a trialist keeper playing the full 90 minutes.

It was that trialist who was Morecambe’s standout performer with a series of saves to prevent Rovers from adding to their tally.

The opening goal came on 10 minutes when Bradley Dack saw his effort kept out by the keeper.

However, it was Graham who was first to the loose ball and converted.

Seconds later and Rovers’ advantage could have been doubled but, on this occasion, the keeper got down well to turn behind Graham’s shot.

Dack fired well off target from 30 yards with the half-hour approaching but Rovers doubled their lead on 32 minutes.

Another ball came in from the Rovers’ left-hand side and Bennett found the net from close range.

Up until that moment, Morecambe’s attacking play had barely been noticed but they pulled a goal back within six minutes.

Rhys Turner was the man in question, beating David Raya Martin with a powerful shot from distance.

Morecambe’s trialist keeper was again called into action to thwart Ben Gladwin before the break, after which the Shrimps twice came close to levelling.

Turner saw a shot tipped over and Alex Kenyon looped an effort onto the roof of the net from 25 yards.

Though both sides rotated throughout the half, Rovers came closest to scoring again with another Dack effort tipped over and Joe Nuttall thwarted by the keeper after breaking the offside trap.

Nuttall and Paul Caddis also headed off target and Bennett curled a shot narrowly wide before referee Jeremy Simpson called a halt to proceedings.

Morecambe: Trialist, Lund (McGowan 82), Trialist (Brownsword 82), Trialist (Winnard 68), Brough (Conlan 82), Kenyon (Hedley 82), Rose, Thompson (Yawson 75), Campbell (Wildig 68), Turner (Trialist 68), Oliver (Ellison 75). Subs not used: Maher, Jordan.

Blackburn Rovers: Martin (Steele 63), Caddis, Mulgrew, Lenihan, Williams, Bennett, Smallwood (Ward 75), Whittingham (Tomlinson 75), Gladwin (Nuttall 75), Dack (Evans 63, Hardcastle 88), Graham (Feeney 63). Subs not used: Grayson, Doyle.

Referee: Jeremy Simpson.