htfcreports.com/2024/08/14/shrimps-netted/It’s never promising, is it, the first round of the Milk cup or whichever sap has been persuaded to sponsor it this year?
Striking the balance between giving youth an opportunity, getting minutes in to legs and completely disrespecting a competition you aren’t ever going to win is difficult and, for years, Town shamelessly haven’t really bothered grappling with the conundrum, and insist upon charging people to watch an enhanced training session, which they invariably lose.
All evidence is pointing towards Michael Duff abandoning the strategy of never reaching the next round of any of the cups, with a refreshingly intense touchline display, urging his charges to defeat a team which was vanquished within 45 seconds anyway.
It would be foolish to draw anything other than mild satisfaction that Town hadn’t metaphorically soiled themselves yet again.
A final score line of 3-0 entirely flattered the hapless visitors whose brave/barmy supporters (delete as applicable) sang defiantly to the end in a cause they knew was monumentally unlikely. If ever there was a football equivalent of pulling the wings off flies, this was it.
That the score wasn’t the pummelling the hosts’ emphatic dominance should have delivered was the only concern from a night which featured some very good performances.
Marshall, on debut, recovered from a shaky start to finish a ball in from the lively and excellent Sorensen for Town’s second and worked hard to regain lost possession, drive in to the area and feed Ward who smartly converted the third.
Sorensen had already assisted Headley’s chested opener with a great ball across in the opening minute and tortured Morecambe’s left hand side until he was withdrawn in the second half.
The Shrimps’ right hand side fared little better with Headley constantly running at them and often times turning them inside out. While the dire quality of the opposition has to be fully acknowledged, the outing confirmed that this could be a breakthrough season for a talent which has been evident but far too often wayward.
Another emerging talent, Iorpenda, showed the touches of class which has persuaded Duff not to send him out on loan. We should expect to see more of him as the season progresses, despite the depth of midfield options available.
Those options include Kasumu, who looks to have put his distinctly average form of last season behind him, with an energetic 15 minutes at Peterborough followed by a dynamic display in this game. Again, praise must be caveated given Morecambe’s shortcomings, but he is another who will play a big part for Duff.
Kane caught the eye with his intelligence and use of the ball, with passing ranging from probing to sumptuous, including a perfectly weighted ball to Ward who appeared to be fouled as he took his subsequently off target shot.
The second half was little more than a procession, but the visitors did cross the halfway line with something approaching threat a couple of times only to thoroughly waste one decent shooting opportunity and then squander a dangerously situated free kick by hitting the first defender.
Town could have scored a hatful, with Koroma the main culprit despite playing well when he came on for Ward. His first effort was unfortunate as he shot past the keeper on an angle only to see the ball hit the inside of the far post before bouncing out instead of in. There was no excuse for hitting the keeper, though, when an awful ball across his own goal by a Morecambe defender fell at his feet.
Koroma was also brought down just outside the box as he was clear on goal, leading to a second yellow card for Harrack and a Herbie Kane free kick which elicited an “ooh” from the crowd despite always going over the bar.
With 15 minutes plus stoppages against 10 men, the Town of old stepped up and failed to score against depleted opposition, despite the aforementioned Koroma chances being in this period.
A second win, a second clean sheet and a professional dismissal of an inferior but battling opponent bodes well.
Significantly more difficult challenges lay ahead, beginning on Saturday.
