Morecambe 4-3 Crewe

10 years ago, my dreams were haunted by Clayton Donaldson. The former York City and Crewe Alexandra frontman had been terrorising Morecambe since I started watching in 2006.

I am forever grateful for the sacrifice Steven Drench made in 2007, dislocating his elbow but ultimately nullifying Donaldson in the Conference play-off semi final against York with a somewhat wild challenge.

Three years later, he was still running the Shrimps ragged as they faced Crewe in League Two with outside play-off hopes.

Will Haining was the main victim on April 2nd 2010, as he was hooked at half time for future Alex manager Dave Artell. Back then, ‘the Moose’ was battering in goals from loopy Craig Stanley corners, something that would eventually win Morecambe that afternoon’s match in dramatic fashion.

The Shrimps lined up with Barry Roche in goal during his second season for the club. The Irishman would go on to win his second player of the year award at the end of that season.

Andy Parrish played at right back that afternoon, with Haining partnering Jim Bentley in the centre of defence.

Despite struggling that afternoon, Haining had been a class act for the Shrimps that season. With him, Bentley, Artell and Danny Adams (with his wand of a left foot) featuring in the Shrimps’ backline that season, it was possibly Morecambe’s baldest ever defence.

Laurence Wilson featured at left back, like Haining enjoying an excellent first season for the Shrimps.

Central midfield featured the dynamic pairing of Craig Stanley and Stewart Drummond, two box-to-box players with Drummond also an excellent contributor of goals from midfield at the time.

Simon Hackney, on loan from Colchester, started on the left with the brilliant Mark Duffy on the right. Duffy was really starting to come into his prime, with a wonderful right foot that would eventually make him a key part of Sheffield United’s promotion winning side last season, playing in a No10 role.

Up front was the insatiably classic target man and poacher duo of Paul Mullin and Phil Jevons. The pair scored 30 goals between them, with Jevons’ total of 18 the most a single player has scored for Morecambe in a League Two season.

After a strong start for the Shrimps with Jevons and Hackney testing Steve Phillips, Crewe grabbed the lead in 17th minute with a strike from Joel Grant. It was doubled just 13 minutes later as future Shrimp Shaun Miller nodded home a second with Roche already beaten.

The Railwaymen boasted an incredibly strong attack that season with Donaldson, Miller and Grant as well as Calvin Zola - this match starting on the bench after recovering from injury.

The second half again saw Morecambe start brightly, and this time they were awarded with a goal for Jevons.

Hackney charged onto a ball into the channel and looped a hopeful cross high into the air. Mullin managed to make a fantastic nuisance of his large frame by standing in the six yard box, forcing Phillips into a handling error as the ball dropped, and Mullin’s wily strike partner Jevons was on hand to slam the ball into the empty net.

But it wasn’t to last for the Shrimps, as that man Donaldson added a third for the Alex after cutting inside from the wing and curling past Roche.

And shortly after, it got worse for the Shrimps. An error in possession from Artell resulted in Miller being put through on goal, only to be brought down after a tussle with Parrish.

The former Bury man saw red and while a younger iteration of myself was incensed at the apparent injustice of it all, in hindsight it was probably a fair decision from the referee.

At least Parrish had made his challenge just outside the area, avoiding the concession a penalty. Well, not unless Hackney’s arm had anything to do with it.

Steven Schumacher stepped up to take the free kick, and Hackney charged forward with his arm in a less than wise position up in the air around his head.

Penalty and game over, surely. Not quite.

The responsibility of the penalty fell to Miller, who effectively foreshadowed his move to the Shrimps five years down the line by missing the penalty.

Penalties are scored roughly 75% to 80% of the the time. Over the course of the 2018/19, Morecambe managed to miss 80% of their penalties (four out of five).

Miller’s strike was saved by Roche low to his left, who impressively managed to keep hold of the ball as well.

Still, with 15 minutes to go and a 3-1 lead against ten men, surely Crewe weren’t in any real danger?

It looked that way until the 87th minute, when Morecambe hauled themselves back into the match courtesy of 78th minute substitute Wayne Curtis.

Wilson looped a cross into the area, which initially looked so horribly overhit the crowd were preparing to bemoan a wasted chance to get the ball into the box.

But Phillips and his defence had an alarming failure of communication and, as the ball dropped into the six yard box, 2007 play-off semi final hero Curtis ghosted in to nod the ball home.

And from that point - statistically unlikely as it may have been - there was only ever going to be one result.

In the 92nd minute, the Shrimps earned themselves a corner - something from which they had been deadly all season - after Curtis had seen his shot well saved.

Stanley floated the ball just past the penalty spot where Artell, as always, climbed highest. His cushioned header dropped invitingly onto the edge of the six yard box, where Mullin had pulled away from his marker to head in the equaliser.

The celebrations were muted though, as the Shrimps hastened to grab the ball from the net and rush back to centre circle (Mullin has admitted he thought that they were still losing at this point).

And three minutes later, they had their reward.

Curtis drove forward into the Crewe penalty area and cut the ball back for Stanley, whose looping shot from the edge of the area was excellently turned away from the top corner by Phillips.

Stanley, again, picked up the ball up to take the corner. This time, he picked his spot towards the back end of the six yard box, floating the ball high enough to stop Phillips coming to claim the ball.

Again, Artell climbed highest but this time, he powered his header back across goal and high into the net, sending the North Stand wild with the final kick (head) of the game.

It was a goal that helped set the Shrimps on course to a 4th placed finish - which remains the highest ever finish in Morecambe’s history.

The play-offs beckoned, although the less said about that the better!