Redshaw miss proves costly

A first-half penalty miss from Jack Redshaw proved decisive as Morecambe and Stevenage fought out a goalless draw.

The Morecambe striker rattled the crossbar with his effort after Kevin Ellison had been brought down by Darius Charles as the Shrimps hit back after a good Stevenage opening spell. Stevenage started the game on the front foot and created several early chances as they looked to avoid a second draw of the season against the Shrimps. Darius Charles forced Scott Davies into a superb save with a close-range header that looked set for the bottom right hand corner of the Morecambe goal. Midfielder David McAllister volleyed just over and Charlie Lee was denied by a fine covering block from Morecambe skipper Mark Hughes. The home side then hit back and were awarded a penalty when Ellison was bundled over by Charles only for Redshaw to hit the crossbar with resulting spot kick. Alan Goodall headed just wide before forcing a save from Chris Day with a sweetly struck long-range effort as play swung from end to end. Stevenage almost snatched the lead just before the break when Davies failed to collect a Dean Parrett corner but Adam Marriott's close range snapshot was cleared off the line by Stewart Drummond. The second half saw few chances with Drummond looking the most likely player to break the deadlock with one header well saved by Day and another looping just over the bar.