BOURNEM’TH
GOALS from Max Gradel and Marc Wilson helped Bournemouth keep Morecambe at bay in their hard-fought clash last night.
Bournemouth have had a sluggish start to the season but they can take heart from the way they rolled their sleeves up and got the job done at the Globe Arena.
Eddie Howe made 10 changes from the side that lost to West Ham at the weekend, with Simon Francis the only man to survive from that loss.
That showed where this match lay in Howe’s priorities as the Cherries look to build on their impressive Premier League showing last term and escape the top-flight drop.
Morecambe had the fresher start and goalkeeper Adam Federici had to be sharp after five minutes as Tom Barkhuizen hit a decent effort from the edge of the box.
In near perfect footballing conditions, both sides looked to play football and the Shrimps, sitting at the top of League Two, had firm hopes of causing an upset. However, Bournemouth showed their killer instinct when they scored with their first attack after eight minutes.
From the edge of the box, Gradel fired a low shot past Barry Roche that went in via the woodwork.
Winger Junior Stanislas very nearly doubled the lead almost immediately but Roche did well to block his close range effort.
Morecambe stormed back into the contest in the 14th minute as Cole Stockton, from three yards out, turned in a long throw-in from Barkhuizen. Bournemouth striker Benik Afobe’s saw a dangerous effort well saved in the 30th minute but seconds before the break, Barkhuizen thrashed an effort against the upright.
After the interval, Bournemouth became more direct and Wilson gave them the lead after 54 minutes with a cracking strike – made extra special debut.
The recent signing from Stoke fired from 25 yards to beat Roche with a brilliant effort that underlined Bournemouth’s determination to avoid extra time.
Immediately after scoring, Wilson then tried his luck from inside his own half as he spotted Roche off his line but because it was his the Shrimps recovered well.
The goal gave Bournemouth an extra yard of pace and a real spring in their step as they went looking for a third to kill the match off but to Morecambe’s credit, they kept fighting hard although Federici had little to worry about.
With 20 minutes to go, that all changed as Jack Dunn’s wonderful curling effort somehow crept wide of Federici’s post as Morecambe goalkeeper came alive and began to press hard. Wilson twice almost beat his keeper with bad backpasses but the visitors showed plenty of heart to seal the win.
MORECAMBE (4-4-1-1): Goal: