Selection headache for clinical Shrimps
OF ALL the things Jim Bentley and Morecambe took away from Kingsmeadow – three points, a second consecutive away win and five goals – ironically it is a selection headache that will give him most joy.
A Shaun Miller double and strikes from Alan Goodall, Tom Barkhuizen and Paul Mullin sealed a well-deserved win, the Shrimps continuing to prove a danger away from home.
With a front line all finding form Bentley insists he is spoilt for choice at the business end of the pitch, but he won’t let anyone get carried away.
“You know what you are going to get when you come here,” he said.
“Set plays, four forwards who are all big, strong and powerful lads.
“I’m absolutely made up. It was another great away performance. Going forward we know how good we are, hitting teams on the break.
“Tom Barkhuizen will get the plaudits – outpacing the back four and the goal he scored was fantastic, and you’ll do well to see a better strike than Shaun Miller’s.
“We’ve got a selection problem up front because Tom is now on seven for the season and he’s doing great and Shaun Miller is only going to get better.
“I think the last three away journeys have been absolutely fantastic – we’ve scored goals, looked good and it’s exciting to watch.
“The only thing now is not being complacent – we’ve got some good results it’s about now assessing where we can get better.”
The Dons went ahead after just two minutes through Andy Barcham, while Miller responded from the spot after he was fouled by Semi Ajayi.
His second was special, latching on to Barkhuizen’s chest down and smashing a volley home from all of 35 yards.
Goodall headed the third just before half-time and despite Akinfenwa getting one back, strikes from Barkhuizen and Mullin finished things off to leave Dons boss Neal Ardley rueing a below-standard display.
“We didn’t play well enough even though we were in the ascendency for most of it,” admitted Ardley. “As the game wore on it was just about whether we could get the third goal and get back in it.