Morecambe remain bottom of League 2 after narrow Bradford loss

Morecambe remain six points from safety in League 2 after Bradford condemned the Shrimps to their 10th 1-0 defeat of the season.

The Shrimps were narrowly edged out at the University of Bradford Stadium by a goal after half an hour when Calum Kavanagh broke the deadlock with a close-range effort.

Morecambe goalkeeper Harry Burgoyne was called into action early on, turning away a fierce effort after Brad Halliday found space in the box, before Halliday again got in down the right and pulled the ball back for Richie Smallwood, whose low effort was again blocked by the stopper.

Morecambe, as so often this season, found themselves playing with good shape and endeavour, but a lack of a cutting edge in the final third was clear to see once again.

On the half an hour mark, Bradford took the lead through Calum Kavanagh.

Morecambe failed to properly clear their lines on the edge of the area, and after the ball was deflected into his path following an initial effort by Antoni Sarcevic, the Bantams forward smashed it pat Burgoyne from close range.

The Shrimps searched for a the leveller, and came when Ben Tollitt connected with Adam Lewis’ free-kick, however the effort was straight at Sam Walker, while Gwion Edwards also drove inches wide.

In the 41st minute, Adam Lewis recovered well to win the ball back in a good area before playing through Edwards who gets a shot off and was inches away from finding the back of the net.

Morecambe’s best chance of the match fell on the hour mark, when a wicked cross on the right by Harvey Macadam found Max Taylor. The defender, making his full league debut, headed powerfully towards goal, but his effort was very well kept out by Walker.

Despite this, the first notable chance of the second half fell to the Shrimps in the 60th minute as the ball was delivered into a dangerous area, finding Max Taylor whose headed effort forced Walker into an unbelievable save down to his right.

As the half wore on, there were late efforts for the hosts, as Bobby Pointon’s strike was parried by Burgoyne, while a last ditch block from Macadam prevented a second goal on the break in stoppage time.

Bradford City: Walker, Halliday (Johnson, 67'), Smallwood ©, Kavanagh (Pattison, 66'), Sarcevic, Baldwin, Wright (Richards, 66'), Kelly, Pointon, Shepherd, Leigh.

Subs not used: Doyle, Khela, Mellon, Lapslie.

Goals: Kavanagh (30').

Bookings: Richards.

Morecambe: Burgoyne, Hendrie, A Lewis, White (P Lewis, 79'), Taylor, Stott ©, Edwards (Cooke, 71'), Macadam, Hope (Dackers, 79'), Tollitt (Slew, HT), Tutonda (Fairclough, 84').

Subs not used: Schofield, Songo'o.

Bookings: Hope, Dackers.