LEE Mansell came within eight minutes of securing all three points for United against league-leaders Morecambe on a sizzling October afternoon in the Riviera.
The Gulls' captain steered home a fine finish just after the hour to open up a previously turgid affair and both sides released the defensive shackles in spectacular fashion.
The final 30 minutes yielded enough opportunities to produce a 5-5 draw but a breathless Plainmoo had to settle for 1-1 after a super solo-equaliser from Kevin Ellison denied the Yellows a much-craved victory.
Both sides mustered changes from defeats last weekend.Rene Howe, suspended after his red card at Shrewsbury, was replaced in attack by Taiwo Atieno. Chris McPhee was also sacrificed, prompting a recall for left-winger Ian Morris.
United manager Martin Ling listened to gut-feeling by restoring goalkeeper Martin Rice to the bench. Danny Stevens rejoined the replacements, bumping Lathaniel Rowe-Turner out of the squad.Morecambe boss Jim Bentley responded to the home loss against Bristol Rovers by withdrawing Izak Reid for Andrew Fleming. On the bench, Phil Jevons and Will Haining replaced Joe Mwasile and Nile Cowperthwaite. Former Gull Kieran Charnock was also among the Morecambe substitutes.
Within five minutes of the hottest October day on record, Chris Robertson's mood rose from the default placid to boiling rage.
His sweat-inducing disappointment stemmed from referee Roger East nonchalantly waving away claims for a penalty after an alleged push in the box as the big defender attempted to get on the end of a Kevin Nicholson corner.
Table-topping Morecambe finally shook off the cobwebs of a 300-mile journey from the Lancashire coast to fire in a speculative low effort from Danny Carlton, easily fielded by Bobby Olejnik in the United goal.
The Gulls responded with a sweeping ball down the right flank by Joe Oastler for Eunan O'Kane to whip in an instant cross, and Atieno's first-time volley only narrowly missed Barry Roche's far corner.
While the football excitement seemed to dull in the sweltering atmosphere, Ellison raised Yellow temperatures with a rugby tackle on Oastler, although arguably in response to a late challenge he received from United's Damon Lathrope moments earlier.
Billy Bodin restored calm on 25 minutes with a fizzing shot from distance that forced Roche into a smart save low down to his right.
Morecambe's threat appeared minimal until an innocuous ball forward was flicked on by Jason Price and Fleming raced into a gap in United's defence before spearing a low drive cross Olejnik and fractionally beyond the far post.
A frustrating first-half drew to a close with a neatly worked move down the left and Nicholson's deep cross fell to Bodin, who rifled a deflected shot against the Morecambe bar for the closest attempt of an otherwise dull opening 45 minutes.
The second period started with a nasty injury to Carlton, who came off second-best in a fierce midfield challenge with O'Kane. Morecambe's leading scorer was stretchered away and replaced by Reid.
Cohesion continued to elude both sides in the autumn sun and set-pieces increasingly looked the likeliest option for a breakthrough from either side.
Nicholson threatened to open the red door with a deep cross for Bodin, who instantly volleyed the ball back across the penalty area but Atieno's run was a fraction too soon. Bodin then lofted a rushed shot high into the Family Stand.
A horrible kick by Roche presented Bodin with a far clearer opportunity on the hour-mark but the shot was sufficiently delayed for Chris McCready to make a vital block.
No problem, Mansell pounced on the second wave of the same attack after a threaded pass from Bodin. The Yellow skipper squeezed a tremendous finish beyond the desperate dive of Roche and inside the far post.
It was difficult to argue that either team deserved a lead but the first moment of real quality was rightly rewarded with Mansell's fifth goal of a prolific season.
The goal sparked the crowd, and Morecambe, into life, and the visitors surged down the right before dribbling a cross toward Stewart Drummond. The veteran midfielder had the guile to steer a low shot inside the near post but Olejnik was equal to the threat with a superb one-handed save.
The Shrimps then cut open the Yellow defence but Reid ballooned his shot with the goal gaping, and even the assistant referee's flag failed to spare the substitute's embarrassment.
Ellison kept Olejnik on his toes with a pair of swinging efforts from distance, both of which narrowly evaded the far post. At the other end, Bodin rifled a stinging drive inches past the upright after a customary dance inside from the right wing.
Ling shuffled his pack with just over 15 minutes remaining, removing Atieno and Morris for the fresh legs of Stevens and McPhee.
The two new arrivals combined beautifully within minutes, McPhee feeding the ball down the left for Stevens, and his low cross was cut out by a desperate lunge from Morecambe captain Nick Fenton.
Stevens then set-up McPhee after a clever flick from O'Kane, but the final effort was miraculously saved by Roche. The rebound came back to McPhee, who this time beat Roche, but Morecambe had men on the line in place to clear.
It would prove a crucial block, as the visitors immediately swept up the other end to equalise. Full credit to Ellison for showing terrific composure to race past the United defence, round Olejnik and slot home for an excellent goal.
The same man then wasted a glorious opportunity to steal the victory. The Gulls completely switched off at the back and the square-pass found Ellison, but, thankfully, his right foot is not as good as his left, and the shot rocketed way over the bar.
McPhee stepped up for the next wonderful opportunity in a growing list. Mansell provided the cross for Bodin, who nudged the ball on to the head of McPhee at the far post, but Roche made up incredible ground to somehow rescue the Shrimps.
As promised, the dour first-half was now long forgotten and Jevons forced another decent save from Olejnik in what had become a gripping end-to-end encounter.
Neither team could create any more. A draw was probably the fairest outcome but it was yet another case of what-might-have-been for United.
Next post will be my review on the match.
Courtnee x
:)
