Match ends, Morecambe 0, Cheltenham Town 0.
MorecambeMorecambe0CheltenhamCheltenham Town0
Cheltenham Town extended their unbeaten league run to six games and moved to the top of the table with a goalless draw at fellow high-flyers Morecambe.
The Robins had the better of the first half, Barry Roche producing crucial saves to deny both Craig Braham-Barrett and the highly impressive John Marquis.
Morecambe grew into the match after the break and both teams pressed for a late goal but failed to break the deadlock.
The result leaves the two sides lying in the top two spots in League Two.
Steve Elliott should have given Cheltenham the lead with a free header from Joe Hanks' first-half corner but the defender glanced over from less than 10 yards out.
Morecambe goalkeeper Roche was then called into action when a Marquis through-ball found Craig Braham-Barrett, whose shot was blocked.
Marquis then hit a fine volley from long range that looked to be a certain goal but Roche could not be beaten.
Having barely threatened before the break, Morecambe showed greater endeavour in the second half but Jim Bentley's side still rarely looked like scoring.
Prior to today's match, loanee Koby Arthur had scored in four of his six appearances for Cheltenham but his late introduction did not stop the match ending goalless.
With the joint-leaders at the start of the day, Burton Albion, not playing until Sunday, Mark Yates's side now have a one-point lead over Morecambe at the top of the table.
Cheltenham Town boss Mark Yates told BBC Radio Gloucestershire:
"To stand firm like we did and keep another clean sheet - we wouldn't have done that last year. We'd have caved in.
"They're a little bit disappointed that they haven't won it, but a draw's a fair result.
"While it was a 0-0, it was still entertainment right until the final whistle."
Line-ups
Morecambe
Formation 4-3-3
- 1Roche
- 2Beeley
- 6Edwards
- 22Parrish
- 15Widdowson
- 8WrightSubstituted forMullinat 59'minutes
- 13Goodall
- 17FlemingBooked at 81minsSubstituted forKenyonat 83'minutes
- 3DevittSubstituted forAmondat 82'minutes
- 7Redshaw
- 11Ellison
Substitutes
- 4Kenyon
- 9Sampson
- 10Williams
- 12Mullin
- 23Doyle
- 25Arestidou
- 27Amond
Cheltenham
Formation 3-5-2
- 1Carson
- 4Taylor
- 5Brown
- 6Elliott
- 7Wynter
- 8Richards
- 16HanksSubstituted forSterling-Jamesat 80'minutes
- 25Taylor
- 3Braham-Barrett
- 9HarrisonSubstituted forArthurat 74'minutes
- 26MarquisBooked at 80minsSubstituted forGornellat 90'minutes
Substitutes
- 10Gornell
- 11Haworth
- 15Deaman
- 18Black
- 19Sterling-James
- 20Arthur
- 30Reynolds
- Referee:
- Mark Heywood
- Attendance:
- 2,273
Match Stats
Home TeamMorecambeAway TeamCheltenham
- Possession
- Home49%
- Away51%
- Shots
- Home12
- Away18
- Shots on Target
- Home3
- Away7
- Corners
- Home6
- Away11
- Fouls
- Home2
- Away15
Live Text
Post update
Full Time
Second Half ends, Morecambe 0, Cheltenham Town 0.
Post update
Attempt missed. Steve Elliott (Cheltenham Town) header from very close range is close, but misses the top left corner.
Post update
Corner, Cheltenham Town. Conceded by Ryan Edwards.
Post update
Corner, Cheltenham Town. Conceded by Shaun Beeley.
Post update
Attempt saved. Jason Taylor (Cheltenham Town) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the top centre of the goal.
Substitution
Substitution, Cheltenham Town. Terry Gornell replaces John Marquis.
Post update
Corner, Morecambe. Conceded by Jason Taylor.
Post update
Attempt missed. Paul Mullin (Morecambe) right footed shot from outside the box misses to the left.
Substitution
Substitution, Morecambe. Alex Kenyon replaces Andrew Fleming.
Substitution
Substitution, Morecambe. Padraig Amond replaces Jamie Devitt.
Booking
Andrew Fleming (Morecambe) is shown the yellow card.
Substitution
Substitution, Cheltenham Town. Omari Sterling-James replaces Joe Hanks.
Booking
John Marquis (Cheltenham Town) is shown the yellow card.
Post update
Joe Widdowson (Morecambe) wins a free kick on the right wing.
Post update
Foul by John Marquis (Cheltenham Town).
Post update
Corner, Cheltenham Town. Conceded by Andy Parrish.
Post update
Attempt missed. John Marquis (Cheltenham Town) header from the left side of the box is close, but misses to the left.
Post update
Foul by Ryan Edwards (Morecambe).
Post update
John Marquis (Cheltenham Town) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
