PAST TIMES: Morecambe

Last updated : 09 June 2015 By Jaybee

The first meeting between the two sides was in September 2001 following Barnet’s relegation from the football league at the end of the previous season. Morecambe won 1-0 at Christie Park, with Norman scoring for the home side. In the return at Underhill, the following March, Barnet turned the tables winning 1-0 with the goal coming late on in the match from teenage substitute, Toby Oshitola. Taking a cross from Wayne Purser, he buried the ball past the Morecambe keeper into the corner of the net. The Barnet side that day was; Harrison; Gledhill, Heald, Arber, Flynn; Doolan, Gower, Brown (Oshitola), Toms; Purser (Sawyers), Midgely (Niven).

The following season, 2002-03, the game at Underhill ended in a 1-1 draw, John Doolan hitting an unstoppable 35 yard shot to equalise for the Bees after Lee Elam had put Morecambe ahead. In the return at Christie Park, the two sides again drew 1-1 with Wayne Purser putting an injury hit Barnet ahead, after being put through by Keith Rowland. Lee Elam equalised for Morecambe. The match was also notable for being Guy Lopez’s debut and also the last match under manager, Peter Shreeves who resigned after the game.

In 2003-04, under new manager, Martin Allen, Barnet made it 22 points from 8 games with a 2-1 home win over Morecambe. Ben Strevens put Barnet ahead with a lob in just 2 minutes and Ian Hendon hit a thunderbolt after 26 minutes to make in 2-0. Garry Thompson pulled a goal back for Morecambe in the second half. Morecambe also had Wayne Curtis sent off.

Barnet completed the double over Morecambe when they won 3-1 in the return at Christie Park. Goals from Joe Gamble, Ben Strevens and Simon Clist gave the Bees a 3-0 half time lead. Danny Carlton pulled one back for Morecambe in the second half.

In Barnet’s Championship winning season of 2004-05, the home match against Morecambe, in September, ended in a 5-1 win for the Bees. Ironically, it was 0-0 at half time and Morecambe had defender, Kieron Walmsley sent off. It was Morecambe though who took the lead, early in the second half through Terry McFlynn, but the league leaders quickly drew level with Simon King’s first ever goal for the club and further goals from Ian Hendon, Giuliano Grazioli (2) and a first ever Bees’ goal from Nicky Bailey gave Barnet an emphatic win. The Barnet team that day was; Millard; Hendon, Yakubu, King, Clist; Sinclair (Bailey), Strevens, Lee (Lopez), Graham; Hatch (Roache), Grazioli.

In the match at Christie Park, the game was drawn 1-1. Barnet were already champions, but Morecambe were fighting to make the play-offs. Liam Hatch put Barnet ahead, but Lee Elam equalised for Morecambe. Barnet were down to 10 men when goalkeeper, Shane Gore was sent off but were worth their point.

The next time that the two sides met was in the opening match of last season following Morecambe’s promotion from the Conference in 2007. Morecambe’s first ever league game, played at Christie Park, ended in a goalless draw, thanks mainly to their on-loan keeper, Joe Lewis who kept the Bees at bay with a number of memorable saves.

The match at Morecambe was a drab affair which Morecambe won 1-0 thanks to a Garry Thompson goal in the second half. It was Morecambe’s first ever win at Underhill.

Early in 2008/09, the two clubs drew 1-1 at Underhill with Albert Adomah scoring for Barnet and Diarmuid O’Carroll equalising for Morecambe. After five defeats in the first five league matches of the season, it was Barnet’s first point. In the return at Christie Park, Morecambe won 2-1 with John O’Flynn scoring the Barnet goal.

The two clubs met at Underhill in August 2009 and the Bees beat Morecambe for the first time in a League Two match, Paul Furlong putting the home side ahead early on and Albert Jarrett scoring a late penalty as Barnet ran out 2-0 winners.

In the return match, Morecambe won 2-1, Matt Lockwood scoring from the penalty spot in his first game of his second loan spell with the Bees.

In 2010/11, the two sides met in September at Morecambe where the Bees let a 2-0 lead slip and had to settle for a point in a game that ended 2-2. Glen Southam and Steve Kabba scored for the Bees. In the return Mark Byrne put the Bees ahead but Morecambe ran out 2-1 winners in a relegation battle.

In 2011/12, Mark Byrne scored with a superb long range strike to give the Bees a 1-0 win at Morecambe on the opening day of the season. However, Morecambe gained their revenge with a 2-0 win at Underhill in March.

In 2012/13, both matches ended up as 4-1 wins for the home side, with Jon Nurse scoring for the Bees at Morecambe and Dani Lopez grabbing a hat trick for the Bees and Luke Gambin also scoring in the game at Underhill.