ANDRADE’S TWO HOT TO HANDLE
LINCOLN boss Danny Cowley said he was ‘proud’ of his team after they bounced back to form.
The Imps’ promotion charge had been halted by four successive draws before this game, but two goals from Bruno Andrade gave them victory over a resurgent Morecambe.
Cowley said: “It was a really solid, professional performance and I am proud of the lads for the way they responded from the disappointment of letting a two-goal lead slip against Stevenage last week.
“We were resolute and we showed the qualities that have taken us into this position and were worthy winners at the end of the day.
“Bruno will get the plaudits with his two goals and he is in a good place at the moment. He has been ill this week, but came though that well and scored two great goals again to put is in a good place.
“There were good performances all over the park. We did the basics really well for the first halfhour and we managed the game much better than last week.’’
Andrade’s first came after 10 minutes with a fine finish.
After the home team lost the ball on the edge of their own area, Mark O’Hara fed Andrade on the right and he curled a superb effort into the top corner.
Lincoln went close to doubling their lead when John Akinde deflected Danny Rowe’s corner against a post, and Andrade went close again.
After a slow start, Morecambe came into it towards the end of the half with Steven Old’s cross just too high for Richie Bennett and Jordan Cranston forcing Matt Gilks into a save from a deflected long range free-kick.
The home side’s hopes of a comeback were dashed by Andrade’s second after 57 minutes. Akinde helped create the opening with a bustling run into the box which ended with the ball at Andrade’s feet. His first effort was well blocked by Luke Conlan, but he reacted quickly to slot the rebound under Mark Halstead.
Morecambe put the leaders under pressure with one Ritchie Sutton effort somehow being scrambled off the line in the 82nd minute as the visitors held on for the win.
Shrimps boss Jim Bentley said his side were below par and didn’t deserve anything from the game.
He said: “I’m very disappointed and frustrated because there were no excuses for the way we played.
“They are a top side, but we didn’t help ourselves and made it far too easy for them and let them play with us, especially in the first half. It was a real lacklustre performance and we deserve the stick we got because it wasn’t accept- able. We gave it a go in the second half, but overall that performance does not reflect a team that showed what we are about. It was too easy for them. We had little spells, but you can’t have five minutes here and five minutes there and expect to get something.”