Morecambe are another of Crawley’s opponents this season that are an old foe from both clubs’ non-league days, having spent three seasons at the same level in the old Conference, now National League, between 2004 and 2007.
In the six games the two teams faced each other at the top level of non-league football saw three wins for the Shrimps and three for the Reds, including a whopping 4-0 win at the Broadfield for Town in Morecambe’s promotion-winning season.
The share of results continued when both sides entered the Football League, but our first contest in the 92 isn’t one many Reds fans will want to remember. It was just five weeks into our first season in 2011 when the Reds headed to the Globe Arena with high hopes.
Few expected it to be an easy contest, but even fewer expected Morecambe to run out 6-0 winners on the day. The Reds fared better in the return game, drawing 1-1 at home as Scott Neilson cancelled out Andrew Fleming’s first half opener, three days after our FA Cup fifth round tie against Stoke.
Morecambe ran out winners in October 2015 at the Globe Arena when a small band of Reds headed to the far north on a Tuesday night. That one finished 3-1 with Rhys Murphy scoring the Reds’ goal. The corresponding fixture finished 1-1 for the second successive season.
The 2016/17 season saw a five-goal thriller in Lancashire in a game that was goalless until the last 20 minutes. Adi Yussuf and James Collins (pictured above) had Reds 2-0 up in the 72nd and 83rd minute respectively, before an 89th minute goal from Michael Rose looked to be a consolation for the Shrimps.
Reds came forward again though and sealed victory in the second minute of stoppage time as Jimmy Smith struck. There was still time for the hosts to grab a second goal, as Cole Stockton brought the scores back to 3-2.
Morecambe ran out 3-1 winners at the Broadfield, in a game that saw them 2-0 up inside seven minutes. James Collins’ second half penalty was a mere consolation for the Reds.
Kevin Ellison was the star of the show on our last visit up north, as his own goal was enough for the Reds to take all three points. Ellison was also sent off to make it a miserable afternoon for him.
There was more late drama in the most recent contest, as Callum Lang’s 90th minute goal looked like stealing a late win for Morecambe, but Karlan Ahearne-Grant struck in the final minute of stoppage time to snatch a point at the death as the sides drew 1-1 last March.
