Amoo goal caps gritty performance ...
Carlisle United left The Globe Arena full of festive cheer as they worked hard to claim a vital away win - their first since October - courtesy of a second half strike from David Amoo.
United, supported noisily by over 1,700 fans, started the game at pace and a long ball forward from Meppen-Walter brought an early corner as Potts kept it alive. The delivery from Dempsey evaded Anderson and Morecambe were relieved to see Grainger smash the follow up over the bar.
A clipped free kick from Dempsey caused more problems as Archibald-Henville challenged in the area but Morecambe were alert and they broke from the clearance in numbers. Amond appeared to be clean through as he arrived late until Anderson put his boot in the way of the shot.
The hosts had a good spell as they found their passing range but Ellison was wasteful when he picked the ball up on the edge of the box. He had options left and right and was disappointed when he swept a poor shot over the target.
A deep free kick from inside his own half from Grainger caused confusion and Kenyon played safe when he hooked it behind for a corner. Beck was penalised for pushing as he tried to make it his own.
Carlisle looked settled and another raking pass from Meppen-Walter allowed Grainger to cross when Sweeney rolled it back into his path. Davies punched long as Beck rose to get a touch.
The good approach play came from United and Amoo waited patiently for Brown as he pulled wide on the flank. The right back swung it in and Sweeney went close with a header which climbed just over the bar.
Carlisle were almost undone by a neat through ball as Devitt pounced on a loose ball in midfield. Ellison was onto it but his first time attempt at a placed shot was easy for Hanford to claim.
The game became a midfield battle with little room for movement and United had appeals for a penalty waved away as Parrish slid in to rob Dempsey of a moment of glory. The nippy front man went close moments later when he exchanged passes with Meppen-Walter on the edge of the box. He caught it well but it whistled just past the post.
Carlisle finished the half on the front foot and Potts curled one wide when he tried his luck with a first time shot. David Amoo then shrugged Beeley out of the way before a cut back into the box was cleared by Hughes as Beck and Sweeney loomed large.
The good work already in the bag for the away side was almost undone on the stroke of half time when Beeley overlapped and crossed the ball high. Ellison nodded it down at the back stick and a combination of Anderson and Grainger was just about enough to prevent it from bouncing over the line.
Beeley and Devitt did the hard work in time added on when they carried the ball across the face of the 18 yard box as they tried to fashion a route through the stubborn back line. Devitt was left with no option but to go for the shot but Hanford was untroubled as it spun off towards the corner flag.
The first chance after the break came from instinctive work from Devitt when he trapped the ball 30-yards out. He spun on the spot and let one go and Hanford had to readjust to tip it over the bar.
The Carlisle response was immediate and clinical and David Amoo was given way too much space on the right wing. He tormented his marker before sliding a lovely shot beneath the keeper and into the back of the net to send the travelling fans behind the goal wild.
Ellison rattled one over as the Shrimps tried to get back on terms and Meppen-Walter, roared on by the Blue Army, did the same at the other end when he put his boot through a 35-yarder.
The home side rallied as they went in search of their equaliser and slick build up play gave substitute Jack Redshaw half an opening. He dropped his shoulder and crunched a low shot just past the post.
Hughes thought he'd found the back of the net when his long range attempt clipped Anderson and left the wrong-footed stopper rooted to the spot. It spun and skipped and somehow edged wide of the target.
Carlisle kept things tight through the closing stages but Hanford was needed right at the death as Hammond tried to find a way through. His volley was firm but the Carlisle stopper matched it with an excellent save.
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Goals
United - Amoo (51)
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Bookings
United - Meppen-Walter (75), Hanford (88), Beck (90)
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Teams
Morecambe - Davies, Beeley, Devitt (Williams 80), Kenyon (McCready 80), Hughes, Edwards (Redshaw 65), Ellison, Drummond, Wilson, Parrish, Amond. Subs - Arestidou, Goodall, McGowan.
Carlisle United - Hanford, Brown, Archibald-Henville, Anderson, Grainger, Meppen-Walter, Amoo (Symington 81), Sweeney, Potts (Asamoah 77), Dempsey, Beck (Thirlwell 90). Subs - Eccles, Brough, O'Hanlon, Hammell.
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Referee - Mr Richard Clark
Attendance - 4,165 (1,696 away fans)
