Papa Johns Trophy report: Morecambe 4 Man Utd 0

The Reds started brightly and forced Mark Halstead into rushing out to block Arnau Puigmal, and also JoeHugill from the follow-up, following a neat through-ball by Hannibal. However, that proved to be the only time the home keeper was tested in the first half as the conditions, and forceful play by Morecambe, upset the youngsters.

Teden Mengi survived a penalty shout after a challenge on Cole Stockton but things were pretty even until the 24th minute, when Cooney cut inside Harvey Neville and curled a shot beyond Paul Woolston and into the far corner of the net.

Cooney was at it again, four minutes later, going solo by running through a rather static defence to slip past Woolston after things opened up for the left-sided operator. With their tails up, the Shrimps kept up the pressure and, although Woolston denied Stockton, Davis stabbed in a third from an Aaron Wilding corner, with Reece Devine floored and appealing in vain for a foul.

Woolston’s one-handed save thwarted John O’Sullivan before Stockton hit the bar, and had a header disallowed for offside, as the half-time whistle could not come quickly enough for the Reds, offering a chance to regroup and clear our heads.