EFL Trophy: Morecambe 2 Wolves 2 (4-5 penalties) - Report

Rob Edwards' side won 5-4 on spot-kicks after drawing 2-2, writes Joe Edwards at the Globe Arena.

It puts them on five points - getting two for coming out on top on penalties in the competition - in Northern Group G, after running out 4-2 victors at Carlisle too.

Elliot Watt's fantastic free-kick broke the deadlock, but Tom Brewitt soon levelled for the Shrimps.

Austin Samuels then put Wolves back ahead, with Michael Howard taking it to penalties.

Wolves had Benny Ashley-Seal in attack, and he was looking to keep up the momentum after grabbing a hat-trick at Carlisle.

Christian Marques, who is 16, was at the heart of defence. Morecambe, meanwhile, had 40-year-old Kevin Ellison at left midfield. Ex-Wolves youngster Jordan Cranston was on the opposite flank for the Shrimps.

This competition and its format is not everyone's cup of tea, but you cannot argue the benefits for youngsters such as Marques. Where else are they going to come up against seasoned-veterans like Ellison?

Marques, after Edwards' side began on the back foot, started to see a fair bit of the ball in the sweeper role after a quarter of an hour.

Wolves, as a whole, grew in confidence and had Watt put them in front with a sweet free-kick from the edge of the box.

An excellent opener. However, Morecambe came up with a swift reply. Within a minute, Brewitt slotted under Andreas Sondergaard from a tight angle.

The visitors, though, were not to be deterred and regained the advantage before the half-hour mark. Terry Taylor, who won the free-kick for Watt's goal, flicked the ball on to Samuels, who displayed a nice turn of pace and coolly side-footed it past Shrimps keeper Mark Halstead.

Taylor then got booked for simulation and Watt stung the palms of Halstead before the interval.

Wolves deserved their half-time lead and should have extended it shortly into the second period.

Watt whipped in a free-kick from the right and Ashley-Seal met it powerfully with his head. The placement was not there though, with the ball flying over the bar.

Cole Stockton then rattled the woodwork for the hosts while Rhys Oates thought he had scored from close range, only to be flagged offside.

It seemed Wolves, following those close calls, were going to hold on, but substitute Howard finished from a few yards out despite Sondergaard's best efforts late on.

But the away side thrived from 12 yards and are in with a great shout of getting to the knockout stages.

Teams

Morecambe (4-4-2): Halstead; Tanner, Lavelle, Old, Buxton; Cranston, Wildig (c), Brewitt (Howard, 74), Ellison; Oates (O'Sullivan, 78), Stockton (Mendes-Gomes, 87)

Subs not used: Roche (gk), Jagne, Brownsword, Lynch

Goals: Brewitt (25), Howard (80)

Wolves (3-5-2): Sondergaard; Sanderson, Marques, Richards; Buur (Otasowie, 78), Perry, Watt (c), Taylor (Tsun Dai, 90), Thompson; Samuels, Ashley-Seal

Subs not used: Pardington (gk), Flavio, Nya, Hong Wan, Hanne

Goals: Watt (24), Samuels (29)

Attendance: 514 (62 Wolves)

Referee: Ross Joyce (North Yorkshire)