Match Preview: Morecambe (A)
EFL League Two
Globe Arena
Tuesday, February 14, 2017 – KO 7.45pm
Team News: Forward Simeon Akinola serves the final match of his three-game ban. Jamie Stephens (calf) and Jack Taylor (Hernia) are both unlikely to feature, while Michael Gash (knee) and Shaun Batt (hamstring) aren’t expected to kick a ball again this season.
Last Time We Met: Three days after a 5-1 defeat at Portsmouth the Bees were denied a much-needed three points as they drew 2-2 with Morecambe at The Hive London at the end of September.
The Shrimps had already hit the inside of Jamie Stephens’ post when the Bees went in front after seven minutes, John Akinde collecting Michael Nelson’s precise ball over the top and hooking beyond Barry Roche.
Two minutes later Morecambe were level, Tom Barkhuizen capitalising on a defensive mix-up and looping the ball over the stranded Jamie Stephens before heading into the empty net.
Akinde had Barnet back in front in the 31st minute, latching onto a poorly-timed backwards header and tucking home.
That was the way it stayed until the 81st minute when Cole Stockton stabbed home a cross from the left to equalise for the Shrimps.
Manager: Jim Bentley, 40, will reach six years as Morecambe boss at the end of the current campaign having been appointed to his first managerial role in May 2011.
The former centre-back, born in Liverpool, spent his entire playing career with Telford United and Morecambe, joining the Shrimps in 2002.
He retired in 2011 when handed the managerial reigns having previously combined playing and coaching duties as player-coach.
In August 2015 he signed a brand-new two-year deal to remain in charge at the Globe Arena and has now overseen 290 matches in the dugout, winning nearly 32%.
Dangerman: Experienced midfielder Michael Rose has been a mainstay at the heart of the Shrimps midfield this season, making 36 appearances and scoring four goals.
The former Manchester United academy graduate, 34, has made over 500 career appearances for 11 different clubs.
Rose played more than 100 times for Stockport County and Rochdale, while also enjoying a long spell at Hereford United.
He won four caps for Paul Fairclough’s England C team from 2002-03, making his debut in a 3-2 defeat to Italy.
Connections: Welsh striker Jason Price wore both teams’ colours in 2011.
The vastly-experienced forward joined the Bees in August 2011 on a short-term deal and scored once in five games before joining the Shrimps in September of the same year.
Price’s solitary Barnet goal came on his debut, a 3-1 defeat to Port Vale. He scored twice in 18 outings for Morecambe and later played for Prestatyn Town, Ossett Town and Shaw Lane Aquaforce.
Another player to have turned out for both is left-back Jordan Mustoe. The former Wigan Athletic youngster made 18 Bees appearances in 2012 before spending part of the 2012/13 campaign on loan at Morecambe.
He currently plays for Belgian outfit Westerlo after leaving Accrington Stanley in 2014.
Last Time Out: A Kevin Ellison double helped Morecambe to a 2-0 home victory over Cambridge United on Saturday.
The veteran winger scored two second half goals in five minutes to secure all three points, lifting the Shrimps to 15th place in League Two.
Morecambe go into Tuesday night’s match on a good run of form, with three wins and three draws in their previous six matches.
Morecambe (4-4-2): Roche; Edwards, Kenyon, Whitmore, Molyneux; Murphy, Wildig (Evans), Rose, Duckworth; Ellison (Jordan), Mullin (Turner).
Ticket info: Full ticket information is available here.
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