Mansfield Town 2 - 1 Morecambe: Scott Shearer saves two penalties to earn Mansfield victory

Posted Sunday, February 07, 2016 by PA

Mansfield goalkeeper Scott Shearer was the hero with two penalty saves in a 2-1 home win over Morecambe.

Both decisions by referee Mark Heywood were controversial and after the second, home manager Adam Murray was sent from the bench.

But Shearer denied both Shaun Miller and Paul Mullin in a thrilling game.

Mansfield led at the break but did it the hard way after conceding after just 58 seconds, the sixth time they have conceded early at home in seven games.

Lee Collins' headed clearance struck Krystian Pearce and fell nicely for Kevin Ellison to dispatch a low finish past Shearer.

But Mansfield were level after 15 minutes when Matty Blair's 20-yard shot came off the head of Ryan Edwards and sailed up and over Barry Roche.

They were ahead after 24 minutes as Pearce thundered home a six-yard header from Mal Benning's corner.

But the home side then had two let-offs as in the 26th minute Ellison had a goal disallowed for offside and after 35 minutes Shearer dived to his right to keep out Miller's penalty after Ryan Tafazolli had brought down Andy Fleming.

After the break, Roche kept out a Benning free-kick and James Baxendale curled just wide of the far post while Shearer stopped a 30-yard Ellison free-kick and a Devitt ball in that evaded everyone.

Another controversial penalty was awarded to Morecambe six minutes from time for handball against Jack Thomas.

But this time Shearer denied Paul Mullin with his trailing leg.