Report: Morecambe 1-1 Rovers

Ryan Hedges marked his first appearance of pre-season with a well taken goal, but it counted for little as Rovers were forced to earn a share of the spoils following a 1-1 draw with Morecambe at the Mazuma Mobile Stadium.

Hedges finished off an excellent team move with a composed volley on the half-hour mark to equalise after Gwion Edwards tapped home an early opener for the Shrimps in the seaside sunshine.

There were plenty of chances for both sides, although the majority came in an action-packed first half. Rovers bossed large chunks of the contest but the closest John Eustace's side came to a winner was through substitutes Tom Bloxham and Dom Biniek, who both fired wide in the second period.

The boss named a youthful team for the test against the League Two hosts. Skipper for the night John Buckley partnered up with Jake Garrett in the centre of the park to protect a back four of Leo Duru, Connor O’Riordan, Pat Gamble and Jake Batty, whilst Joe Hilton started in goal.

In attack, Hedges made his first appearance of pre-season after suffering a serious hamstring injury against Southampton back in April and took the spot on the right flank.

Rovers began brightly on the coast, with the first chance falling to Harrison Wood just three minutes into the encounter. The young attacker cut in from the left flank before unleashing a curled effort from range that dropped just over Stuart Moore’s crossbar.

At the other end, Hilton did well to drop low to his left to keep out a strike from Harvey MacAdam, who hit first-time in the box, only to see the stopper in his way.

However, that was to be a stay of execution for Rovers as the Shrimps took the lead just seconds later in the 12th minute through an Edwards tap-in. A left-footed effort from Ben Tollitt took a deflection off a Rovers defender and, although Hilton parried, Edwards, who scored against Rovers on his debut for Ipswich Town back on the opening day of the 2018-19 campaign, followed in to pounce for the opening goal of the evening.

Markanday almost forced home an equaliser after some slick play down the left involving Tyjon and Wood, with Garrett crossing to the forward, who fired towards goal first time, only to see Moore in the way at the mid-point of the first period.

Buckley, fresh from scoring a free kick just six days earlier, then tried his luck with a set piece from 20 yards out, the effort going the side guarded by Moore, who did well to push the low effort away as Rovers continued to probe for a leveller.

You felt the goal was coming and it did in some style as Hedges marked his return with a beauty. Buckley wrapped the ball into Tyjon’s feet, with the teenage starlet flicking it into Hedges’ path, and the Welshman did the rest with a composed volley beyond Moore and into the back of the net.

As planned, Hedges only played the first half and was replaced by Tom Bloxham for the start of the second period, and it was the former Tottenham Hotspur youngster who went close to putting Rovers in front just four minutes after the interval; taking a touch on his chest before rifling a dipping half-volley just past Moore's left-hand post.

The second period didn't have the number of chances the first period had, but Dom Biniek, who replaced Wood on the hour mark, sent an effort flying past Moore's post with just under 20 minutes remaining after a good lay-off into his path from the impressive Tyjon.

Chances were at a premium for both sides throughout the majority of the second half and there was to be no match-winning moment as the teams cancelled themselves out.

Rovers will be back in action tomorrow afternoon when a more senior side tackle Wigan Athletic at the DW Stadium, kick-off 3pm.