Bishop strike secures vital win for Mansfield Town at Morecambe
A first half goal from the experienced Neal Bishop was enough to give the Stags a welcome three points as they also extended their club record unbeaten away run to 10 league matches, winning at Morecambe for a fourth season in a row.
The decisive strike came in the 36th minute. A right wing Otis Khan corner found its way to the midfielder on the edge of the Morecambe area and the veteran produced a moment of quality to volley a 20-yard effort right footed into the bottom right hand corner.
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The Stags had come close to taking the lead in the 12th minute when Mal Benning produced a cross from the left that dipped in the swirling wind as the ball hit the inside of the post with Roche beaten.
From there Morecambe had the better of the play and produced some fine football with A-Jay Leitch-Smith forcing Bobby Olejnik into a fine save low to his right with a shot from the edge of the area.
Mansfield always looked dangerous on the counter and Danny Rose wasted two glorious chances to extend the Stags’ lead, drilling a close range shot over the bar and heading a Benning cross over from 12 yards out.
The Stags looked the sharper side in the second half with Benning firing an early shot just wide from 35 yards and Tyler Walker forcing Roche into a fine save with an effort from just inside the box.
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Roche was quick to react and make further saves from CJ Hamilton and Danny Rose as David Flitcroft’s side looked a constant threat.
The home side went close when former Mansfield loanee Vadaine Oliver headed Liam Mandeville’s cross over, but Bobby Olejnik was protected well as the Stags kept a confidence boosting clean sheet.
MORECAMBE: Roche, Mills, Yarney, Lavelle, Conlan, Hedley (rep Oates 65), Cranston, Mandeville, Leitch-Smith, Ellison (rep Piggott 80), Oliver. Subs not used: Halstead, Mendes-Gomes, Thompson, Oswell, Brownsword,
STAGS: Olejnik, Benning, Preston, Sweeney, Pearce, Bishop, Mellis (rep Elsnik 80), Khan(rep Butcher 83), Walker (rep Graham 90), Hamilton, Rose. Subs not used: Logan, Sterling-James, Law, Gibbens.
REFEREE: R. Lewis.
ATTENDANCE: 1,355.