Cross Country

Morecambe 2-3 Hartlepool United (National League)

Boston to Morecambe is just short of 200 miles so it's another lengthy road trip East to West between fifth tier stadiums as less than 24 hours do I watch one National League match between two evenly balanced teams, do I take on another viewing, between two with varied ambition this season.

Morecambe are in a relegation battle after a turbulent couple of years, the Panjab Warriors expected bigger and better upon their late takeover in the summer but what the club have found is tough transition after dropping in to the National League, survival is not as easy as it sounds, with Gateshead winning against York last night that's now even more difficult with a six point gap on the safe spaces above, you feel anything less than a win tonight will heap pressure on the chances of Jim Bentley's team surviving.

Bentley isn't to blame for all of this, only recently taken over from the failed appointment of Ashvir Singh Johal, the Shrimps had won three and drew one of their last six before defeat at Yeovil at the weekend. More bad news hit the headlines today too as a winding up petition had been served against them following an old debt unpaid by the previous regime.

If Morecambe are a mess, than Hartlepool, who have had their troubles in the past, are one with brighter ambitions, sitting poised to pounce in the middle of the table they are closing in on the playoff places above and are in a decent run of form after back to back 1-0 wins at Truro and at home to Eastleigh.

Nicky Featherstone is the popular Pools manager, he played almost 500 career games at United and since taking over from Simon Grayson in October has slowly stabilised the side who are solid and structured in defence, but have been lacking goals in recent weeks, scoring just two in their last four, conceding only three, I'm hoping they'll be a little more ambitious in attack tonight.

It's mid afternoon and a 3 hour drive awaits, I'm across the A50 through Stoke and up the M6, a quick stop off at Charnock Richard Services as the sun comes out, a cold chill in the air, the final leg is less than 30 miles away and I pull up on a side street around the corner from the Mazuma Mobile Stadium with plenty of time to play.

The Venue

It's a five minute walk to the ground as I head down Westgate past a couple of caravan sites before turning right into Christie Way.

The white backed Main Stand hogs the eyeline as I head straight for the reception doors and ask where to get my accreditation, it's an easy one tonight as the lady on the front desk passes me a lanyard, "upstairs and through the bar" she tells me.

The bar area for corporate members is a bit like Phoenix Nights as I walk through to grab a coffee, it opens up on to the pitch glass fronted and elevated with people sitting on rounded tables drinking beer as a local man with a suit and red scarf around his neck goes through some sporting quiz questions over the microphone.

As I walk out onto the veranda you get a lovely view of the pitch down below, not dissimilar to the position I was sat in at Midtjylland last week, nicely lofted but close up to the action, as I ask an old steward where my seat is, he hasn't a clue, asking everybody in office whilst taking me with him, I probably could have found it myself much quicker without him.

The Stadium itself feels open, this big seated stand with corporate facility feels airy and to the elements, if you catch a bad day I doubt the roof would save you from the wind or rain. Opposite is a strange unfinished like terraced section with no roofing nicknamed 'the Berlin Wall' due to its long running row of breeze blocks behind, a burger kiosk window sits alone lit up on half way, either side three or four rows of steps where just a few are brave enough to congregate in the cold. Each end is a roofed terrace, the one to my right empty and not in use, but the one to my left packed with Morecambe fans having a good sing song behind the goal.

The Game

I'm met by a scout from Kendal who's a regular in these parts, he tells me to watch out for Morecambe's on loan striker Chris Popov who's been playing well since joining from Leicester.

Hartlepool have brought a couple of hundred fans with them, sat and stood to my right as we are told to squeeze in, I'm moving up one from the seat I'm allocated to allow a couple of the clubs media hierarchy in.

The visitors in white knock it about well in the early stages, they're on top and are buzzing around with confidence, but Morecambe in red break well, they get joy down the flanks and in particular through Gwion Edwards and Jack Nolan who are both bloody good players.

It ebbs and flows and is a really good game as both sides trade attacks before a corner is won by Morecambe after good work by Lewis Payne. Jack Nolan finding Popov who finds Edwards with a clever routine, he strikes through a crowd on the edge of the area and puts the home side one up.

You feel it's deserved as Morecambe play some good stuff with the lively Popov a real menace in attack, but at the other end Hartlepool always look like scoring and take their chance on 34 when Charlie Caton gets on the end of a deflected cross, the former Chester striker is a player I like. He's on loan from Accrington where he's not quite made the grade at League Two.

The Score

I'm impressed with how both teams play during an entertaining first half. Morecambe 3-4-1-1 look a little loose defensively but they have good talented footballers who are definitely good enough to be playing at this level.

Hartlepool are solid looking defensively but can be got at, they have good footballers in midfield and rely on their wingers to cause panic with two out and out strikers up front.

Jack Nolan is one of the best players on the pitch and it's he who gives Morecambe the lead on the hour when the ball falls kindly into his path to volley home and wrong foot the goalkeeper who's already on the floor, but Hartlepool never feel out of it, and when Sinclair crosses to Reid we are all square with fifteen still to play.

Subs are made but it hardly effects the flow, another good move this time involves Cameron John down the left and he again finds Reid, right place right time, the away fans go wild.

You think that's it for poor old Morecambe who don't deserve to lose but they do create a couple of late chances, Jack Nolan cuts inside to curl a beauty right footed goalwards but his brilliant belter is headed off the line superbly by John, the resulting corner causes carnage as Shrimpers goalkeeper Jamal Blackman goes up, another shot is deflected over before a further corner is cleared, as Hartlepool break Blackman trots back half paced with no intentions of trying to save a goal, I'm in hysterics as he's stood on half way hands on hips as the away side attack is caught offside. It's a comical ending to a decent game of football, you feel for Morecambe who aren't as bad as the table suggests they are. The table, however, especially at this stage of the season, does not lie.

The Stars

If Morecambe do go down, and it's likely, several of their players will certainly get snapped up, too good for National League North are the likes of Jack Nolan, Gwion Edwards and Miguel Azeez.

Nolan has 16 goals in 33 games this season for the divisions second worst team. He's powerful and technical and probably too good for the National League, let alone Morecambe.

Skipper Edwards may hang around as he's coming to the end of his career but at 33 still has a lot to offer at the level. He provides pace (still) and quality on the left hand side whilst Miguel Azeez is a wiry number eight who tends to get better the later the match goes, unfortunately after a slow start, and on a booking, just as he was starting to come good, he was substituted.

As for Chris Popov, I really like his eagerness to be involved, he reminds me of a video game character, moves with his head pointed down and takes off like lightening, enjoys the hustle and bustle but is only light in frame, he's scored 7 in 14 for Morecambe so is certainly one to watch for the future.

Hartlepool too have some brilliant players, both full backs impressing me on the night, Cameron John on loan from York, quick and technical, he was probably at fault for the corner leading to Morecambe's first goal but redeemed himself with an assist and headed clearance off the line which in the end saved all three points.

Jay Benn at right back was also magnificent. A solid display with composure and great athleticism, whilst in midfield the guvnor Nathan Sheron ticked things along sitting in front of the back four, allowing the likes of Jamie Miley and Matty Daly to get on the ball and play, two talented young lads, Daly with plenty of league experience largely at Harrogate whilst Miley is rebuilding his career after leaving Newcastle for good, in the summer.

Plenty of quality in attack too, the experience Alex Reid twice netted. The talented Charlie Caton also on the score sheet whilst Tyrese Sinclair caused problems all night down the left, he likes to cut in on his right and strikes a ball sweetly.

The Verdict

The win for Hartlepool has them now just two points behind Southend who are seventh in the last remaining playoff spot which is very gettable for those chasing.

You feel on 68 points Forest Green in sixth should hang on to achieving a playoff place themselves with six games to go but Southend (62) have the same points as Halifax having played two games less, any slip ups by the Shimpers and that could lead to the Shaymen or even Hartlepool nicking the last spot on offer.

Morecambe are facing the probability of relegation again, in worrying times for the football club their people seem upbeat, they just crack on with a smile still on their face in true northern fashion, it must be tough having fallen from the third tier in English football to the fifth, it might be tougher soon to be falling to the sixth, but the key is that the football club survives, and continues to serve up a community that goes beyond just what happens on the pitch. As long as there's football in Morecambe, the Morecambe fans will always have hope.

The Teams

Morecambe: Jamal Blackman, Lewis Payne (Tommy Fogarty 78), Harlee Dean, Gwion Edwards (Kyle Jameson 90), Miguel Azeez (George Thomas 72), Liam Hogan, Paul Lewis, Dan Ogwuru (Mo Sangare 72), Timothy Akindileni (Ben Tollitt 90), Jack Nolan, Chris Popov.

Hartlepool United: Nicholas Hayes, Jay Benn, Cameron John, Max Kouogun, Nathan Sheron, Jack Hunter, Jamie Miley, Alex Reid (Vadaine Oliver 89), Matty Daly (Adam Campbell 80), Charlie Caton (Sam Folarin 80), Tyrese Sinclair.

7:45pm Kick Off. Wednesday 25th March 2026, Morecambe Stadium (att 2,565).