Morecambe slip to defeat at Chesterfield in final away game of the season

Morecambe's final EFL away game of the season ended in a 4-1 defeat to Chesterfield at the SMH Group Stadium.

Click here for the latest episode of The Shrimps Verdict Podcast

In the opening exchanges, goalkeeper Ryan Schofield had to be alert to keep out efforts from Jenson Metcalfe and Liam Mandeville, while at the other end Lee Angol had a shot blocked for the Shrimps.

Five minutes before half time, Chesterfield had a chance to take the lead from a corner but Kyle McFadzean glanced his header inches wide at the back post. 

Then, Angol had a great chance to give Morecambe the lead, as he was put through by a Callum Cooke pass, but the striker dragged his effort wide of target.

In first half stoppage time, the Spireites took the lead. A corner wasn’t cleared, and after Songo’o cleared the ball off the line, Will Grigg pounced to fire home.

After the break, Morecambe had a good spell of pressure, with an Adam Lewis header not finding the target, while, Schofield made a brilliant save to deny a Michael Jacobs' effort.

Morecambe regained possession and David Tutonda danced down the left wing before delivering an inch perfect cross that was headed home for the equaliser by Jordan Slew.

The teams were level though for just two minutes. Schofield saved, and from the resulting Mandeville corner, Ash Palmer prodded home at the back post.

15 mintues were left on the clock and Chesterfield struck again, adding their third through Michael Olakigbe who slid home after Ryan Colclough broke down the left and crossed low into the box.

Slew came close to getting his second of the afternoon after beating three players to fire a shot goalward only to be denied by Ryan Boot. 

The hosts extended their lead further with ten minutes tom play, as Liam Mandeville sent his free-kick to the far post where Palmer nodded it back across goal to Tom Naylor who buried his header into the top corner. 

Adam Lewis came close to getting a late consolation back for the Shrimps, but his cross-shot beat the keeper but came back off the post.

Chesterfield: Boot, Naylor ©, Mandeville, Grigg (Pepple, 63'), Fleck, Duffy (Colclough, 63'), Gordon (Grimes, 77'), Palmer, McFadzean (Oldaker, HT), Metcalfe (Jacobs, 32'), Olakigbe.

Subs not used: Thompson, Madden.

Goals: Grigg (45+1'), Palmer (62'), Olakigbe (75'), Naylor (80').

Bookings: McFadzean.

Morecambe: Schofield, A Lewis, White, Taylor, Stott, Angol (Hope, HT), Tollitt (Slew, HT), Cooke (Fairclough, 83'), Tutonda, Songo'o © (P Lewis, 69'), Jones.

Subs not used: Burgoyne, Dallas, Dackers

Goals: Slew (59').

Bookings: Taylor, Stott.

Attendance: 8,725 (308 away).