Report, highlights & reaction: Morecambe 1-0 Barnsley

The Shrimps recorded their first home victory of the season in League One against Barnsley at the Mazuma Stadium.

Kieran Phillips scored his fourth goal of the season six minutes before the interval to secure a vital three points for Derek Adams’ men.

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Connor Ripley was called into action early on and did brilliantly to deny Nicky Cadden with his feet from close range at the back post.

Aside from that, chances of note proved few and far between in the opening 20 minutes, with both defences standing resolute, including an excellent Liam Shaw block to prevent a Tom Edwards strike from the edge of the box reaching its intended target.

The ball did fall to Cole Stockton on 26 minutes after a long throw into the mix from Ryan Cooney, but the striker couldn’t find the target.

Minutes later and it was Barnsley’s turn to try their luck; Some neat build up play saw the ball land at the feet of Josh Martin, but he could only drag the shot wide of Ripley’s right-hand post.

Six minutes before the break and the deadlock was broken; A long throw from Cooney again caused issues inside the Barnsley box, and the ball fell into the path of Kieran Phillips who made no mistake from close range.

The visitors came out fighting in the second half, with Josh Benson coming close to an equaliser on 50 minutes, but his powerfully struck effort from distance flew narrowly wide.

Barnsley looked to grow into the game and forced Ripley into an excellent save on 62 minutes when Benson’s dipping attempt looked to be goal-bound, but our number one tipped the ball over the bar at full stretch.

The Tykes continued to pose a threat on the Morecambe goal, with a flurry of set-pieces in quick succession, but Ripley did excellently to command his box and punch the danger clear time and time again.

Despite the visitors' efforts, Derek Adams’ side defended excellently and stood firm to every Barnsley chance of the afternoon.