Morecambe 0-0 Carlisle United: Strong showing from Blues in pre-season draw

Their last pre-season friendly saw them often on top against League One side Morecambe.

The Cumbrians came close on a number of occasions but couldn't capitalise on their spells of dominance.

It will, though, go down as a positive showing from Paul Simpson's side on the final weekend before the League Two season starts.

Owen Moxon was often at the heart of things for the Cumbrians, with Jon Mellish, Tobi Sho-Silva and Ben Barclay among those having good chances.

Ash Hunter and Farrend Rawson came closest for Derek Adams' hosts, while Omari Patrick made a welcome return from injury as a second-half Carlisle sub.

Simpson's selection included Morgan Feeney back from injury and with the captain's armband, while Patrick returned to the squad after a lay-off.

Owen Moxon battles for the ball with Ousmane Fane

Jamie Devitt was also on the bench against his former club as he continues his quest for a contract, while Brennan Dickenson missed out with a dead leg.

United went on to start the first half well and set a positive tone which they maintained for much of the first 45 minutes.

Moxon was at the core of much of their brightest work, and he curled an early shot wide from the edge of the box.

The Carlisle-born midfielder then saw a corner attacked by Mellish only for home keeper Connor Ripley to save.

Jake Taylor failed to make the most of a Morecambe break after pouncing on Ryan Edmondson's control, while Hunter had a clearer opening when found behind United's defensive line.

Tomas Holy was well out of his box to try and cut out the danger - and got enough on Hunter's shot to see the ball spin behind for a corner.

Players clash after an incident late in the game

United, though, were the better side in general, pressing well and persistently around Morecambe's box, without making things count in front of goal.

Moxon was denied by a Liam Gibson block before Mellish had handball appeals turned down when his shot was blocked following a Moxon corner.

Callum Guy saw a shot blocked with Jordan Gibson then shooting wide as Simpson's side remained on the front foot.

Morecambe then passed up a chance to snatch the lead on the break, when Hunter was put through and rounded Holy, but saw an attempted pass cut out as Blues defenders retreated.

Simpson sent on Sho-Silva at the break for Edmondson as the latter nursed a minor hip problem, with ex-Blues striker Cole Stockton into the action for Morecambe.

And Carlisle could have gone in front when Kristian Dennis nodded a Jack Armer cross through the six-yard box, but Sho-Silva was unable to connect.

More neat play from United saw Armer almost tee up Dennis, before Gibson's free-kick attempt broke for the left wing-back, whose low drilled effort was blocked.

Jack Armer blocks a Morecambe ball forward

Carlisle were firmly back on top at this stage and went close again when keeper Ripley missed a Moxon corner but Sho-Silva's effort trickled wide.

Patrick then came off the bench midway through the second half, replacing Dennis, with Ben Barclay next to pass up a useful chance for the Blues, volleying Moxon's latest corner over the bar from a good position.

Hunter came close for Morecambe with a piledriver that just cleared the top left corner, before Simpson introduced Sonny Hilton for the closing stages.

And United were next to go close as Moxon drove through midfield and fed Patrick to the left, but Ripley was equal to the sub's shot.

Rawson then failed to convert a tempting inswinging free-kick from Hunter for the home side.

There was then an angry skirmish between players as home sub Dylan Connolly went crashing into an advertising board behind the goal and responded angrily, shoving Jon Mellish as he reacted to the challenge when both players had chased the ball in United's half.

Paul Simpson, centre, on the touchline

Both players were booked, before Simpson sent on Jamie Devitt for a late run-out against his former club as things ended goalless.

The crowd of 1,413 for this pre-season game, including 332 travelling Blues, was significantly more than the attendance for the same fixture in the Papa John's Trophy last season, which drew only 945.

Morecambe: Ripley, Love, Melbourne (Connolly 71), Gibson, Rawson, Delaney, Taylor, Fane, Gnahoua (McLoughlin 56), Hunter, Watts (Stockton 46). Not used: Smith, Obika, McLaughlin, Cooney, O'Connor, McDonald.

United: Holy, Barclay, Feeney, Mellish, Armer, Back (Hilton 73), Guy, Gibson, Moxon (Devitt 84), Edmondson (Sho-Silva 46), Dennis (Patrick 67). Not used: Breeze, Whelan, Ellis, Bollado.

Ref: Samuel Barrott.

Crowd: 1,413 (332 Carlisle fans).