Bentley happy to go home with point
CHESTERFIELD ..1 MORECAMBE ....1
MORECAME boss Jim Bentley deemed himself satisfied with taking a point from Chesterfield, despite the Spireites playing the last halfhour with ten men.
Bentley saw Chesterfield stopper Tommy Lee produce a fine late save to keep out Lewis Alessandra after Conor Townsend had seen red for the hosts.
The Hull City loanee was adjudged to have elbowed Morecambe captain Will Haining in the 64th minute.
Townsend had earlier pulled Paul Cook’s men level with a curling 25-yard freekick five minutes before the break – his first Football League goal – after Chris McCready had given the Shrimpers a 29th minute lead at the Proact Stadium.
“I think it was a fair result,” said Bentley. “When a team goes down to ten men and you have 11 it can be difficult, but to be fair to them they kept coming at us.
“They were probably a bit more threatening than us at that time in the game.
“Their keeper has made an unbelievable save from Lewis at the end. I was right in line with it and it was a superb save.
“Overall, a draw was probably the right result. It was end to end and swinging both ways, but I’m possibly a bit disappointed we didn’t create more chances towards the end.”
McCready’s goal was awarded by the assistant referee who called that his header had crossed the line despite the best efforts of Lee.
The best chances in the second half came late on as Danny Whitaker placed a shot wide and Lee superbly denied Alessandra.
Chesterfield coach Mark Crossley revealed the club is unlikely to appeal Townsend’s sending off.
“It wasn’t malicious what he did for the sending off,” he said.“I don’t think we will appeal the decision but we will have another look and then decide.
“It was an accident but he did catch him, so it’s a difficult one.
“We’re disappointed that we didn’t win the game; we had the better chances.
“Roche has pulled out a couple of good saves for them, but Tommy has pulled off a miracle save in the last minute.
“When they scored we were disappointed that we were conceding set pieces.
“It’s impossible to tell whether the ball crossed the line.
“Credit to the linesman for making a brave decision saying that the ball crossed the line.Tommy told me at half-time that he wasn’t sure whether it had or not.”
Bentley added:“You’re not always going to play well, especially at this time of the year. I came here two months ago and watched them, but Cooky has got them playing much better nowadays.”