Report, highlights & reaction: Morecambe 2-2 Harrogate Town

Morecambe began 2024 with a point in League Two, following a stoppage time equaliser from Jacob Bedeau at the Mazuma Mobile Stadium.

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In an even first half, where Morecambe looked largely untroubled at the back, JJ McKiernan saw an effort from a narrow angle well held by keeper James Belshaw, while at the other end, George Thomson stepped up and fizzed a free kick just wide of Adam Smith’s right-hand post.

Michael Mellon shot straight at the keeper on 32 minutes following an excellent counter attack, before the visitors opened the scoring in scrappy fashion just before the half time whistle.

Thomson’s cross was initially blocked by a defender before the ball fell kindly to the onrushing Muldoon reacted quickest to fire home from close range.

The Shrimps came out searching for an equaliser after the break. Charlie Brown released Jordan Slew down the left, and saw a strike deflected behind for a corner.

Moments later, the Shrimps were level. Slew collected the ball with his back to goal, turned and struck a low effort from 20 yards that found the bottom corner.

Moments later, Taylor’s cross found Farrend Rawson in space inside the Town box, but his side-footed volley was straight at Belshaw.

Smith was called upon and made a superb save on 63 minutes after meeting Thomson’s goal-bound effort, before Thomson blasted an effort wide after an initial effort was blocked.

Harrogate retook the lead seven minutes from time, as they hit on the break.

A square ball from the right found Abraham Odoh, who slipped over as he looked to strike, but the ball fell kindly for Thomson to side-foot beyond Smith.

Morecambe weren’t to be denied a share of the points, and in the second minute of stoppage time Eli King’s corner was headed back across goal by Rawson and there was Bedeau to convert from close range.

Muldoon then thought he scored a winner with one of the last kicks of the game, but his strike cannoned back off the crossbar.

Morecambe: A Smith, Tutonda, Bedeau, Rawson ©, Songo’o (C Smith, 90+6’), King, Mellon (Brown, HT), McKiernan (Taylor, 41’), Mayor (Bloxham, 40’), Senior, Slew

Subs not used: Pedley, Stokes, Davenport.

Goals: Slew (57’), Bedeau (90+2’).

Bookings: Brannan, Slew, Songo’o, Rawson

Harrogate Town: Belshaw, Falkingham © (Sutton, 80’), Thomson, Cornelius (Burrell, 85’), Odoh, Folarin (March, 85’), O’Connor, Muldoon, Ramsay, Foulds, Gibson.

Subs not used: Mooney, Daly, Sivi, O’Boyle.

Goals: Muldoon (44’), Thomson (83’).

Bookings: Belshaw, Burrell.

Attendance: 3,776 (161 away)