Boro pick up a point in Lancashire as hosts miss first-half penalty

The New Year may not have started with a win for Stevenage, but a goalless draw at Morecambe extended their unbeaten run to four matches.

It was a game of two penalty shouts at the Globe Arena, with both decisions going against Graham Westley’s side.

The first, on 16 minutes, was when Ronnie Henry slightly touched Kevin Ellison whose tumble to the floor gave Jack Radshaw the chance to put his side ahead, only for the Morecambe man to hit the bar.

And then in the dying moments of the game, Roarie Deacon appeared to be tripped in the box only for the referee to wave away Stevenage’s claims.

There were plenty of chances – and plenty of saves – but although the result leaves Boro in 10th place in League 2 none of the four teams directly above them managed a win.

Stevenage were without striker Ryan Brunt, who had formed an effective partnership with Charlie Lee in recent weeks, so in came Adam Marriott to start up front.

Lee, who had scored in his three previous matches, dropped deeper into a midfield role alongside Dean Parrett and David McAllister, the latter in his last game before his loan deal ends.

Boro began brightly and had the better of the play, with Marriott running on to a through ball on the left only to have his shot palmed to safety by Scott Davies.

The Shrimps goalkeeper, on loan from Fleetwood, was then called upon to pull out a superb one-handed save while diving to his right to keep out Darius Charles’ header.

The best chance of the game went the way of the hosts on 15 minutes when a long punt up field was flicked on and Ellison tumbled in the box.

Redshaw, the home side’s best player, then stepped up but smashed his shot against the top of the bar.

Morecambe improved and Alan Goodall stung the upper arms of Chris Day, before for Boro centre-half Charles beat Davies to a corner only to be denied by a Morecambe defender.

The second half saw less flowing football and fewer chances, though there was a late substitute appearance for Boro striker Calvin Zola.

Stewart Drummond had Morecambe’s best chances when he forced a low save out of Day before, later, heading just over the bar.

And then Stevenage thought they had a good shout for a penalty of their own only to be denied the chance for a winner as the game ended goalless.

Next up for Stevenage is a return to the Lamex Stadium next weekend and the visit of an AFC Wimbledon side who host Liverpool in the FA Cup tomorrow (Monday).

Morecambe: Davies, Beeley, Devitt (Sampson 87), Hughes, Edwards (Amond 69), Redshaw (Mullin 63), Ellison, Goodall, Drummond, Wilson, Parrish. Subs: Arestidou, Kenyon, McGowan, McReady.

Stevenage: Day, Henry, Okimo, Wells, Charles, Whelpdale (Zola 79), Pett, McAllister, Parrett, Marriott (Deacon 70), Lee (Conlon 63). Subs: Beasant, Walton, Beardsley.

Att: 1,530