NO STOPPING CURLE’S BOYS
CARLISLE UNITED are still the only unbeaten team in League Two following this commanding win.
Just shy of 2,000 fans made the relatively short trip from Cumbria, outnumbering the home fans to create a carnival atmosphere.
An early goal from captain Danny Grainger really got the party started as he smashed the ball home on the half-volley after keeper Barry Roche had flapped at a deep cross.
But it was Jason Kennedy who made it an impressive win with two goals late in the second half, his first was a phenomenal overhead kick after Morecambe failed to clear Tom Miller’s long throw.
Then, just six minutes, later the midfielder headed home from close range following Nicky Adams’ in-swinging corner, to bag his fifth goal of the season.
“We’ll enjoy this one, we’ll look at and enjoy the headlines but come Monday morning my players’ focus is on Hartlepool next Saturday,” said Carlisle manager Keith Curle.
“I don’t take anything for granted, the attitude we’ve got as staff and as a changing room is we’re focused.
“There’s a work ethic amongst the group at the minute, fantastic banter as you’d imagine with a team at the right end of the table. But when it is time to work, there is a demanding environment which is excellent.
“We’re demanding of ourselves and very professional but still expressive and the players have that freedom to go and entertain.”
The defeat made it four in a row at home in the league for the Shrimps who travel to Notts County on Tuesday hoping for a change in fortunes.
They created their fair share of chances and arguably were unlucky to go in a goal behind at half-time.
Tom Barkhuizen and Cole Stockton looked dangerous but neither could convert when presented with a chance to score.
On the hour mark Stockton rolled his man and his goalbound strike was impressively palmed away by United keeper Mark Gillespie, as it felt like it was going to be another one of those days for the Shrimps.
Morecambe boss Jim Bentley gave an insightful post-mortem into his side’s defeat.
“I’ll hold my hands up for the first goal, I didn’t want Cole Stockton running back 60 yards when their centre-half wasn’t coming up, so I told him to stay up front,” Bentley said.
“I could see what was going to happen when the ball was floated in and I wish I’d just kept it as it was and sent him (Stockton) back in.
“We had to take Peter Murphy off as he’s just come back from two serious injuries, it was his job to front screen the long throw and we’ve not dealt with it for their second goal, and it’s exactly the same for the third goal because it was Murphy’s man.”