Morecambe 2 Doncaster Rovers 1

IT was difficult to tell whether Christie Park was a football pitch or a wrestling ring at the Conference clash on Saturday.

Justin Jackson played a beautifully cool penalty shot to open the scoring after 15 minutes, Andy Warrington, Rovers' keeper was completely wrong-footed. Jackson bagged the penalty after Michael Knowles was floored by Kevin McIntyre in the box.

Rovers' played a rough match and when young John Hardiker hit the deck having come into contact with an elbow it was symptomatic of the tactics used by the Yorkshiremen. Hardiker had to be replaced by Paul McGuire as his vision had been impaired.

Another player to fall foul was Morecambe's key man in the past few weeks, Stewart Drummond who was on the receiving end of a particularly late challenge from Rovers' skipper Dean Walling. The boot raking into his side proved too much for him and the tenacious Drummond was forced to throw inthe towel.

There was some hint at justice when Rovers' McIntyre was sent off in the second half. This is the Tyke's hat-trick of red cards for the season and having floored Knowles again he received his second caution and was sent off.

Even though it was a dirty game, the Shrimps played superbly. Phil Eastwood delivering the winning goal having been freed up by Dave McKearney. Eastwood confronted two Doncaster defenders and completely foxed them by checking back and thundering home a superb right-footer.

Doncaster were determined to keep battling on and were rewarded with a tremendous effort from Gary Williams who had replaced Shaw after 72 minutes.

This win for Morecambe has now taken them to fourth position in the table.

Team: McIlharghey, Fensome, Brown, McKearney, Hardiker , Knowles, Thompson, Drummond, Jackson, Norman, Eastwood. Subs not used: Smith, Banks.