Bentley beaming after Morecambe’s massive win over Exeter

Morecambe boss Jim Bentley said his side’s victory over Exeter was a “massive” one for the club.

A goal from skipper Michael Rose 12 minutes from time saw Bentley’s side come from a goal down to clinch a vital three points and move them further away from the League 2 relegation zone.

Bentley said: “We have three home games in seven days and this was a massive win for us. It put some daylight between us and the bottom two which is fantastic.

“The conditions were tough for both sides and it was hard to play any real football but both teams gave it their all and we had to show real spirit after they took the lead.

“We equalised at a great time just before the break and with the wind at our back in the second half I always thought we could go on and win it and despite not creating too many chances that is what we did.

“Exeter are one of the top sides in the league and it was nerve wracking at the end for us as they threw everything at us but the lads showed great spirit and defenced well to pick up a massive win.”

Exeter manager Paul Tisdale said his side’s lack of a cutting edge left him frustrated.

He said: “It wasn’t a bad performance but it was a bad result. It was a good chance to get some vital points today but we came away with nothing.

“I don’t think we deserved to lose the game but we did and we have to be a lot more streetwise and lot more clinical.

“We can’t make any excuses because we got into the game well and looked lively but I lost count of how many shots we had that went over the target and we need to do better than that. We had a great start to the game and got in front so did the first part of the job.

“I am frustrated that we didn’t hold onto that lead and their equaliser came at a bad time for us because with the wind at their backs I knew they would give us problems in the second half.

“Even with the wind they didn’t cause us too many problems and we dealt with pretty well until they scored with a goal that took a bad bounce over the keeper.”

Rose sealed the points 12 minutes from time when he scored with a 20-yard volley that took a wicked kick before beating keeper Christy Pym low to his left hand side.

Exeter thought they had taken the lead in the 12th minute when Jayden Stockley slotted home a Kyle Edwards cross but the goal was chalked off for offside.

The visitors continued to provide a threat in and around the Shrimps box and did take the lead through defender Pierce Sweeney on 37 minutes.

Stockley played a ball into space and Sweeney was left unmarked by the Morecambe defence and he produced a cool finish to slot the ball under Barry Roche from 12 yards out The lead was short lived as Morecambe levelled two minutes from the break.

Rose provided the assist with a left wing corner which was met by defender Sam Lavelle at the near post and his header beat Pym to his left hand side.

The second half saw Morecambe look livelier with the wind at their backs with Adam McGurk and Alex Kenyon going close from distance before Exeter threatened with the dangerous Edwards twice firing over after good runs into the box before Rose’s winning strike.

At the other end Dean Moxey produced a vital covering tackle to foil Callum Lang’s run on goal before Rose’s winning strike.