Match report: Morecambe 1 Mansfield Town 3

It's six of the worst for Morecambe as they slumped to yet another defeat.
Paul Mullin marked his recall to the starting XI with Morecambe's goalPaul Mullin marked his recall to the starting XI with Morecambe's goal
Paul Mullin marked his recall to the starting XI with Morecambe's goal

Danny Rose’s first-half double, as well as a goal from Ben Whiteman, made it a March to forget for Jim Bentley’s players with half-a-dozen defeats on the spin.

The Shrimps were on level terms in the first half after Paul Mullin had cancelled out Town’s fourth-minute opener but that was good as it got for the home side.

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Bentley had made three changes from the Shrimps side beaten by Accrington Stanley in midweek.

Injury ruled out Ryan Edwards, while Peter Murphy and Lee Molyneux were both demoted to the bench.

In came Luke Conlan with Andy Fleming and Mullin’s second-half showings on Tuesday earning them a recall.

However, as with the Stanley defeat, the Shrimps were left to rue defensive mistakes for all three goals.

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The opener came when the Shrimps failed to deal with a free-kick from deep and Alex MacDonald played the ball back in for Danny Rose to volley home.

Two minutes later, however, and Mullin got the Shrimps on level terms by outmuscling Kyle Howkins in chasing Barry Roche’s clearance and finishing coolly.

It set the tone for an end-to-end opening 45 minutes where both sides took it in turn to attack.

Michael Rose curled an effort narrowly over the Stags’ crossbar, while Aaron Wildig saw an effort deflected off target.

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However, the greater attacking danger came at the other end with MacDonald and Shaq Coultihirst chancing their arm before two goals in six minutes put the visitors firmly in the ascendancy.

Danny Rose netted his second on 33 minutes, capitalising on a defensive error and firing in a shot which squirmed under Roche and just inside his right-hand upright.

Moments later and it was 3-1 as Morecambe again lost possession, allowed Coulthirst to run in behind them and hold up the ball before squaring to Whiteman to fire home.

Needing a fast start to the second half, the Shrimps came out on the front foot with Wildig forcing a save from Jake Kean with only 13 seconds gone.

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The better chances, though, continued to come at the other end with Roche denying Danny Rose following Conlan’s error in possession.

Roche also thwarted Coulthirst on two occasions, though the best chance came when full-back Hayden White got behind the home defence.

Rather than shoot, he elected to try and find Coulthirst but the Morecambe defence got back in time to clear.

Mullin and Kevin Ellison both sent attempts well off target as the Shrimps battled but lacked the quality required to break down their visitors.

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Coulthirst fired narrowly off target and sent a free-kick high, wide and particularly ugly with time running out but it mattered not as Morecambe’s wait for a positive result goes on.

Morecambe: Roche, Duckworth, Winnard, Whitmore, Conlan (Molyneux 74), Fleming (Evans 68), M Rose, Turner (Jordan 65), Wildig, Ellison, Mullin. Subs not used: Maher, Wakefield, McGowan, Murphy.

Mansfield Town: Kean, White, Bennett, Howkins, Benning, MacDonald (Potter 86), Byrom, Whiteman, Green (Baxendale 80), Coulthirst, D Rose (Arquin 76). Subs not used: Jensen, Taft, Hamilton, McGuire.

Referee: Robert Jones.

Attendance: 1,497.