2015–16 Morecambe F.C. season

The 2015–16 season was Morecambe's ninth consecutive season in League Two, the fourth tier of English football.[1]

Morecambe
2015–16 season
ChairmanPeter McGuigan
ManagerJim Bentley
StadiumGlobe Arena
League Two21st
FA CupFirst Round
League CupFirst Round
League TrophyArea Semi-finals
Top goalscorerLeague: Shaun Miller (15)
All: Shaun Miller (16)
Highest home attendance3,070 v Carlisle United
27 February 2016
Lowest home attendance1,027 v Dagenham & Redbridge
1 December 2015
Average home league attendance1,572
Biggest winMorecambe 4–1 Notts County
29 August 2015
Wimbledon 2–5 Morecambe
17 October 2015
Biggest defeatCambridge United 7–0 Morecambe
19 April 2016
All statistics correct as of match played 7 May 2016.

They began the season on 8 August 2015, with the opening match of their League Two campaign. They also competed in three cup competitions, the FA Cup, the League Cup and the League Trophy.

They were eliminated in the first round of both the FA Cup and the League Cup, but performed better in the League Trophy. Reaching the area semi-finals was their best performance for eight years. They knocked out three League One sides before losing 2–0 away to Fleetwood Town on 8 December 2015.

Competitions

Pre-season and friendlies

On 19 May 2015, Morecambe announced the dates for their home pre-season friendlies which included Bolton Wanderers and Bury.[2] On 27 May 2015, Morecambe announced they will visit Nantwich Town.[3] On 9 June 2015, Morecambe confirmed they will visit Kendal Town.[4] On 19 June 2015, Morecambe announced two further pre-season friendlies.[5] On 28 June 2015, Morecambe announced a Liverpool XI side will visit on 1 August 2015.[6]

14 July 2015 (2015-07-14) Friendly Kendal Town 0–5 Morecambe Kendal
19:30 BSTReportWildig 22'
Molyneux 50' (pen.)
Kenyon 69'
Ellison 79'
Barkhuizen 90' (pen.)
Stadium: The Northgate Vehicle Hire Stadium
21 July 2015 (2015-07-21) Friendly Nantwich Town 0–6 Morecambe Nantwich
19:30 BSTReportEllison 6'
Mullin 10', 21' (pen.), 39', 45'
Wildig 83'
Stadium: The Weaver Stadium
24 July 2015 (2015-07-24) Friendly Morecambe 1–1 Bury Morecambe
19:30 BSTMurphy 40'ReportEdwards 4' (o.g.)Stadium: Globe Arena
27 July 2015 (2015-07-27) Friendly Carnforth Rangers 1–2 Morecambe Carnforth
19:00 BSTMurphy 30'ReportKelleher 45' (pen.), 55'Stadium: Quarry Park
1 August 2015 (2015-08-01) Friendly Morecambe 2–2 Liverpool XI Morecambe
15:00 BSTMullin 49', 50' (pen.)ReportGomez 59'
Sinclair 73'
Stadium: Globe Arena
Attendance: 1,794 (398 away)
Referee: Graham Salisbury
5 August 2015 (2015-08-05) Friendly AFC Liverpool 2–5 Morecambe Crosby
19:30 BSTBelger 20'
Barry 39'
ReportRyan 41', 69'
Doyle 71'
Miller 74'
Kelleher 85'
Stadium: Arriva Stadium

League Two

League table

PosTeamPldWDLGFGAGDPtsPromotion, qualification or relegation
19Yeovil Town461115204359−1648
20Crawley Town46138254578−3347
21Morecambe461210246991−2246
22Newport County461013234364−2143
23Dagenham & Redbridge (R)46810284681−3534Relegation to the National League
Updated to match(es) played on 7 May 2016. Source: BBC Sport
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goal difference; 3) Number of goals scored
(R) Relegated

Results by matchday

Round12345678910111213141516171819202122232425262728293031323334353637383940414243444546
GroundAHHAHAAHAHHAAHHAAHAHAAAHHAHHHAHAHAAHAHHAHAAHAH
ResultLWLDWWWLDLLWWWLLDLLWLDWDWLLLDLLLLLDWLLWLLDLLDD
Position20121615105577121411107811151617131717131413141415141616171818181718181818191920212121
Source: Statto.com
A = Away; H = Home; W = Win; D = Draw; L = Loss

Matches

On 17 June 2015, the fixtures for the forthcoming season were announced.[7]

8 August 2015 (2015-08-08) 1 Hartlepool United 2–0 Morecambe Hartlepool
15:00 BSTPaynter 25'
Harrison  30'
Fenwick  48'
Bingham 65'
Magnay  84'
Duckworth  89'
ReportMullin  84'
Edwards  90+4'
Stadium: Victoria Park
Attendance: 4,289
Referee: Darren England
15 August 2015 (2015-08-15) 2 Morecambe 1–0 Accrington Stanley Morecambe
15:00 BSTWildig 13'
Kenyon  86'
ReportWinnard  51'Stadium: Globe Arena
Attendance: 1,865
Referee: Stuart Attwell
18 August 2015 (2015-08-18) 3 Morecambe 0–1 Wycombe Wanderers Morecambe
19:45 BSTReportThompson  58'
Bean  64'
Pierre 74'
McGinn  83'
Stadium: Globe Arena
Attendance: 1,395
Referee: Mark Haywood
22 August 2015 (2015-08-22) 4 Portsmouth 3–3 Morecambe Portsmouth
15:00 BSTBurgess  24'
Stevens  31'   73'
Roberts 42', 65'
Stockley 90+5'
ReportBarkhuizen 11'
Goodall 25'
Roche  36'
Fleming 38'
Beeley  45'
Dugdale  90+2'
Stadium: Fratton Park
Attendance: 16,052
Referee: Roger East
29 August 2015 (2015-08-29) 5 Morecambe 4–1 Notts County Morecambe
15:00 BSTGoodall 20'
Mullin 65'
Devitt  75' 90'
Fleming  86'
Kenyon 88'
ReportAmevor  17'
Snijders 41'
Campbell  45+1'
McLeod  86'
Stadium: Globe Arena
Attendance: 1,621
Referee: Ross Joyce
5 September 2015 (2015-09-05) 6 Yeovil Town 2–4 Morecambe Yeovil
15:00 BSTCornick 2'
Jeffers  27'
Sowunmi 30'
ReportDevitt  45+2'
McGowan  45+3'
Edwards  58'
Wildig 64'
Fleming 71'
Molyneux 84'
Ellison 90+2'
Stadium: Huish Park
Attendance: 3,024
Referee: Nick Kinseley
12 September 2015 (2015-09-12) 7 Newport County 1–2 Morecambe Newport
15:00 BSTBarrow  33' 67'
Hayden  90+5'
ReportGoodall 34'
Dugdale  48'
Mullin 90+4' (pen.)
Stadium: Rodney Parade
Attendance: 2,068
Referee: Robert Lewis
19 September 2015 (2015-09-19) 8 Morecambe 2–4 Northampton Town Morecambe
15:00 BSTBarkhuizen 67'
Byrom 86' (o.g.)
ReportD'Ath 31'
Hoskins 34'
Furlong  37'
Byrom 48'
Calvert-Lewin 69'
Stadium: Globe Arena
Attendance: 1,778
Referee: Eddie Ilderton
26 September 2015 (2015-09-26) 9 Oxford United 0–0 Morecambe Oxford
15:00 BSTTaylor  90'ReportBeeley  66'
Dugdale  77'
McGowan  90+5'
Stadium: Kassam Stadium
Attendance: 5,273
Referee: Tim Robinson
29 September 2015 (2015-09-29) 10 Morecambe 1–3 Luton Town Morecambe
19:45 BSTBarkhuizen 25'ReportWilkinson 13'
McGeehan 27'
McNulty  68'
Smith 88'
Stadium: Globe Arena
Attendance: 1,388
Referee: Chris Sarginson
3 October 2015 (2015-10-03) 11 Morecambe 3–4 Bristol Rovers Morecambe
15:00 BSTMiller 43'
Barkhuizen 60'
Mullin 87' (pen.)
Fleming  90+6'
ReportMansell 28'
Bodin 47'
Taylor 58'
Harrison 80' (pen.)
Nicholls  90+2'
Stadium: Globe Arena
Attendance: 1,712
Referee: Andy Madley
10 October 2015 (2015-10-10) 12 Carlisle United 2–3 Morecambe Carlisle
15:00 BSTGrainger 23'
Joyce  45+1'
Asamoah  58' 90+2'
ReportMiller 35', 74'
Barkhuizen 63'
Stadium: Brunton Park
Attendance: 5,303
Referee: Peter Bankes
17 October 2015 (2015-10-17) 13 Wimbledon 2–5 Morecambe London
14:00 BSTBarcham 3'
Taylor  44'
Akinfenwa  45+8' 49'
Reeves  76'
ReportMiller 8' (pen.), 13'
Kenyon  15'
Goodall  17' 45+9'
Devitt  21'
Ellison  55'
Barkhuizen 80'
Mullin 90'
Stadium: Kingsmeadow
Attendance: 3,679
Referee: Trevor Kettle
20 October 2015 (2015-10-20) 14 Morecambe 3–1 Crawley Town Morecambe
19:45 BSTMiller  39' 65'
Ellison 41'  89'
Beeley  70'
Mullin 90+2' (pen.)
ReportEdwards  20'
Murphy 84'
Stadium: Globe Arena
Attendance: 1,098
Referee: Darren Handley
24 October 2015 (2015-10-24) 15 Morecambe 0–1 Leyton Orient Morecambe
15:00 BSTReportMarquis  24'
Payne 28'
Chicksen  89'
Stadium: Globe Arena
Attendance: 2,105
Referee: David Webb
31 October 2015 (2015-10-31) 16 Plymouth Argyle 2–0 Morecambe Plymouth
15:00 GMTCarey 3'  42'
Tanner 12'  43'
ReportGoodall  27'Stadium: Home Park
Attendance: 7,574
Referee: Michael Bull
21 November 2015 (2015-11-21) 17 Barnet 0–0 Morecambe London
15:00 GMTMcLean  88'ReportMullin  79'Stadium: Hive Stadium
Attendance: 1,632
Referee: Fred Graham
24 November 2015 (2015-11-24) 18 Morecambe 2–4 Cambridge United Morecambe
19:45 GMTMolyneux 21'
Wilson  26'
Barkhuizen  55'
Murphy  60' 67'
Miller  62'
Edwards  73'
ReportLegge 12'
Donaldson 34'
Gayle 35'
Williamson 48'
Berry  65'
Ledson  79'
Stadium: Globe Arena
Attendance: 1,689
Referee: Ben Toner
28 November 2015 (2015-11-28) 19 Stevenage 4–3 Morecambe Stevenage
15:00 GMTWells 7'
Whelpdale 20', 49', 61'
Pett  86'
ReportEllison 13', 90+4'
Goodall  45+2'
Beeley  46'
Murphy  64'
Mullin 82' (pen.)
Stadium: Lamex Stadium
Attendance: 2,415
Referee: Lee Collins
1 December 2015 (2015-12-01) 20 Morecambe 1–0 Dagenham & Redbridge Morecambe
19:45 GMTMullin 31'ReportLabadie  45'Stadium: Globe Arena
Attendance: 1,027
Referee: Kevin Wright
19 December 2015 (2015-12-19) 21 York City 2–1 Morecambe York
15:00 GMTWinfield 38'
Berrett 52'
Oliver  88'
Flinders  90+4'
ReportDevitt 54'
Molyneux  73'
Wildig  74'
Stadium: Bootham Crescent
Attendance: 2,769
Referee: Carl Boyeson
28 December 2015 (2015-12-28) 22 Notts County 2–2 Morecambe Nottingham
15:00 GMTMcLeod 45+1', 63'ReportMiller 8'  73'
Ellison 23'
Dugdale  68'
Stadium: Meadow Lane
Attendance: 4,556
Referee: Robert Lewis
2 January 2016 (2016-01-02) 23 Wycombe Wanderers 0–2 Morecambe High Wycombe
15:00 GMTO'Nien  32'
Ingram  83'
ReportMurphy  6'
Miller 54'
Devitt 84' (pen.)
Mullin  90+5'
Stadium: Adams Park
Attendance: 3,555
Referee: Andy Davies
12 January 2016 (2016-01-12) 24 Morecambe 1–1 Exeter City Morecambe
19:45 GMTMiller 49' (pen.)  56'ReportStockley 54'Stadium: Globe Arena
Attendance: 1,040
Referee: Andy Haines
16 January 2016 (2016-01-16) 25 Morecambe 2–1 Yeovil Town Morecambe
15:00 GMTFleming  17'
Devitt  37'
Ellison 74'
Miller 80'  87'
ReportWard  7' 69'
Walsh  74'
Stadium: Globe Arena
Attendance: 1,340
Referee: Scott Duncan
23 January 2016 (2016-01-23) 26 Northampton Town 3–1 Morecambe Northampton
15:00 GMTRichards  27'
Collins 30'
O'Toole 40'
McDonald 51'
Buchanan  90+2'
ReportFleming  26'
Wilson  57'
Ellison  58'
Mullin 72'
Dugdale  90+5'
Stadium: Sixfields Stadium
Attendance: 4,652
Referee: Gavin Ward
26 January 2016 (2016-01-26) 27 Morecambe 1–2 Mansfield Town Morecambe
19:45 GMTMullin 71' (pen.)ReportClements 86'
Yussuf 90'
Stadium: Globe Arena
Attendance: 1,047
Referee: Nigel Miller
30 January 2016 (2016-01-30) 28 Morecambe 1–2 Newport County Morecambe
15:00 GMTMiller 60'
Ellison  76'
Conlan  86'
ReportBoden 1', 69'  71'Stadium: Globe Arena
Attendance: 1,342
Referee: Mark Brown
2 February 2016 (2016-02-02) 29 Morecambe 1–1 Portsmouth Morecambe
19:45 GMTFleming  58'
Beeley  89'
Roche 90+4'
ReportClarke  31'
Evans 40'
Stadium: Globe Arena
Attendance: 1,399
Referee: Richard Clark
6 February 2016 (2016-02-06) 30 Mansfield Town 2–1 Morecambe Mansfield
15:00 GMTBlair 15'
Pearce 24'
Tafazolli  34'
ReportEllison 1'
Fleming  90'
Stadium: Field Mill
Attendance: 3,090
Referee: Mark Heywood
13 February 2016 (2016-02-13) 31 Morecambe 2–4 Oxford United Morecambe
15:00 GMTMolyneux 23'
Ellison  45+4'
Miller  70'
Edwards  90'
Barkhuizen 90+1'
ReportRoofe 9'
Mullins  37'
MacDonald  45+4'
Lundstram 71'
Hylton 74'
Bowery 80'
Stadium: Globe Arena
Attendance: 1,749
Referee: Peter Bankes
20 February 2016 (2016-02-20) 32 Bristol Rovers 2–1 Morecambe Bristol
15:00 GMTBrown  58'
Gaffney 68'
Bodin 78'
ReportDevitt 12' (pen.)
Fleming  80'
Stadium: Memorial Stadium
Attendance: 7,400
Referee: Darren England
27 February 2016 (2016-02-27) 33 Morecambe 1–2 Carlisle United Morecambe
15:00 GMTEllison 27'
Kenyon  85'
Edwards  90'
ReportRaynes  49'
Wyke 83' (pen.)
Asamoah 84'
Stadium: Globe Arena
Attendance: 3,070
Referee: Darren Drysdale
1 March 2016 (2016-03-01) 34 Luton Town 1–0 Morecambe Luton
19:45 GMTMarriott 76'ReportStadium: Kenilworth Road
Attendance: 7,153
Referee: Darren Deadman
5 March 2016 (2016-03-05) 35 Crawley Town 1–1 Morecambe Crawley
15:00 GMTHarrold 54'ReportBeeley  52'
Miller 83'
Stadium: Broadfield Stadium
Attendance: 1,697
Referee: Iain Williamson
12 March 2016 36 Morecambe 2–1 AFC Wimbledon Globe Arena
15:00 GMTFleming 76'  77'
Devitt 80' (pen.)
BBC ReportMeades  72'
Sweeney  79'
Reeves  83'
Francomb 90'
Attendance: 1,477
Referee: Geoff Eltringham
19 March 2016 (2016-03-19) 37 Leyton Orient 1–0 Morecambe Leyton
15:00 BSTSimpson 13'
Edwards 80' (o.g.)
ReportRoche  12'Stadium: Brisbane Road
Attendance: 4,442
25 March 2016 (2016-03-25) 38 Morecambe 0–2 Plymouth Argyle Morecambe
15:00 BSTKenyon  45'
Molyneux  45+3'
ReportHoughton 14'
Matt 47'
Carey  53'
Stadium: Globe Arena (football stadium)
Attendance: 2,081 (627 away)
Referee: David Webb
2 April 2016 (2016-04-02) 39 Morecambe 4–2 Barnet Morecambe
15:00 BSTMiller 1', 8' (pen.)
Kenyon 48'
Molyneux  74'
Stockton 88'
ReportYiadom  62'
Gash 70', 90+3'
Muggleton  72'
Stadium: Globe Arena
Attendance: 1,175
Referee: David Coote
9 April 2016 (2016-04-09) 41 Morecambe 2–5 Hartlepool United Globe Arena, Morecambe
15:00 GMTKenyon 25'
Barkhuizen 87'
ReportWoods 4'
Thomas 6', 50'
James 76' (pen.)
Oates 89'
Attendance: 2,005
Referee: Carl Boyeson
19 April 2016 (2016-04-19) 43 Cambridge United 7–0 Morecambe Cambridge
19:45 BSTBerry 6' (pen.), 90+3' (pen.)
Dunk 17', 26'
Williamson 29'
Roberts 45+1'
Ismail 59'
ReportConlan  31'
Edwards  90'
Stadium: Abbey Stadium
Attendance: 3,941 (away 46)
Referee: James Adcock
23 April 2016 (2016-04-23) 44 Morecambe 1–4 Stevenage Morecambe
15:00 BSTStockton 20'
Wildig  57'
Devitt  90+4'
ReportGoodall 38' (o.g.)
Parrett 45+1', 71'
Kennedy 86'
Stadium: Globe Arena
Attendance: 1,129
Referee: Oliver Langford
30 April 2016 (2016-04-30) 45 Exeter City 1–1 Morecambe Exeter
15:00Ellison 85'ReportStockley 89' (pen.)Stadium: St James Park
Attendance: 3,936
Referee: Darren Drysdale
7 May 2016 46 Morecambe 1–1 York City Morecambe
15:00Devitt 51'ReportSummerfield 45'Stadium: Globe Arena
Attendance: 1,620

FA Cup

The first-round draw was made on 26 October 2015. Morecambe were drawn away to fellow League Two side Dagenham & Redbridge.[8]

7 November 2015 (2015-11-07) First Round Dagenham & Redbridge 0–0 Morecambe London
15:00 GMTConnors  90+3'ReportParrish  20'Stadium: Victoria Road
Attendance: 900
Referee: Tim Robinson
17 November 2015 (2015-11-17) First Round Replay Morecambe 2–4 Dagenham & Redbridge Morecambe
19:45 GMTBarkhuizen 6'
Wildig 7'
ReportVassell 13' (pen.), 50'  53'
Dunne 37'
Labadie 70'
Stadium: Globe Arena
Attendance: 1,176
Referee: Geoff Eltringham

League Cup

The first-round draw was made on 16 June 2015. Morecambe were drawn at home against Sheffield United.[9]

11 August 2015 (2015-08-11) First Round Morecambe 0–1 Sheffield United Morecambe
19:45 BSTReportCollins 90+3'Stadium: Globe Arena
Attendance: 2,168
Referee: Steve Martin

League Trophy

The first-round draw was made on 8 August 2015, by Women's World Cup bronze medalists Toni Duggan and Alex Scott. Morecambe were drawn at home against Walsall.[10] On 5 September 2015, the second-round draw was made by Charlie Austin and Ed Skrein. Morecambe were drawn away to Bury.[11] The draw for the area quarter-finals was made on 10 October 2015. Morecambe were drawn away to Rochdale.[12] The draw for the area semi-finals was made on 14 November 2015, by John Hartson and Paul Heaton. Morecambe were drawn away to Fleetwood Town.[13] All the draws were shown live on Soccer AM.

1 September 2015 (2015-09-01) First Round Morecambe 2–0 Walsall Morecambe
19:45 BSTDevitt 57'
Barkhuizen 72'  82'
ReportMantom  80'Stadium: Globe Arena
Attendance: 1,332
Referee: Seb Stockbridge
6 October 2015 (2015-10-06) Second Round Bury 0–1 Morecambe Bury
19:45 BSTBrown  88'ReportGoodall  77'
Miller 81'
Stadium: Gigg Lane
Attendance: 1,508
Referee: Mark Brown
10 November 2015 (2015-11-10) Area Quarter-final Rochdale 0–1 Morecambe Rochdale
19:45 GMTMcNulty  24'
Cannon  82'
ReportMullin 17'
Miller  79'
McGowan  88'
Stadium: Spotland
Attendance: 1,428
Referee: David Coote
8 December 2015 (2015-12-08) Area Semi-final Fleetwood Town 2–0 Morecambe Fleetwood
19:45 GMTJónsson  58'
Ball 63'
Ryan 76'
ReportEllison  54'
Barkhuizen  72'
Stadium: Highbury Stadium
Attendance: 1,715
Referee: Paul Tierney

Transfers

Transfers in

Date fromPositionNationalityNameFromFeeRef.
1 July 2015MF Charlie BaileyAcademyTrainee[14]
1 July 2015CF Tom BarkhuizenBlackpoolFree transfer[14]
1 July 2015CB Adam DugdaleTranmere RoversFree transfer[15]
1 July 2015ST Jack KelleherAcademyTrainee[14]
1 July 2015LM Lee MolyneuxTranmere RoversFree transfer[16]
1 July 2015RB Peter MurphyWycombe WanderersFree transfer[17]
1 July 2015CM Aaron WildigShrewsbury TownFree transfer[18]
5 August 2015CF Shaun MillerCoventry CityFree transfer[19]
6 August 2015GK Tony Thompson (footballer) Rotherham UnitedFree transfer[20]

Transfers out

Date fromPositionNationalityNameToFeeRef.
1 July 2015CF Pádraig AmondGrimsby Town [a]Free transfer[22]
1 July 2015GK Andreas ArestidouFree AgentReleased[23]
1 July 2015CB Will BellFree AgentReleased[22]
1 July 2015DM Stewart DrummondRetired[24]
1 July 2015CB Mark HughesStevenage [b]Free transfer[22]
1 July 2015RW Marcus MarshallGrimsby Town [c]Free transfer[22]
1 July 2015CF Jack SampsonMacclesfield Town [d]Free transfer[22]
1 July 2015RM Declan WatsonFree AgentReleased[22]
1 July 2015CM Ryan WilliamsBrentford [e]Free transfer[22]
1 July 2015RB Andrew WrightSouthport [f]Free transfer[22]
10 July 2015CF Jack RedshawBlackpool£180,000[30][31]

Total income: £180,000

Loans in

Date fromPositionNationalityNameFromDate untilRef.
5 August 2015CF Jack RyanPreston North End31 October 2015 (Recalled on 22 October 2015)[32]
1 September 2015GK Kieran O'HaraManchester United29 September 2015[33]

Loans out

Date fromPositionNationalityNameToDate untilRef.
18 August 2015CB Chris DoyleChorley14 November 2015[34][a]

See also

References