Morecambe Town 2 v Charlton Athletic 2

Injuries and suspensions caught up with Charlton Athletic last night in the far north-west as they were forced to settle for a point on their first ever visit to Morecambe Town. A point on the road is rarely a poor result but on the evidence of last night Johnnie Jackson will see that it was really two points lost.

A fortuitous opener after only two minutes when Jayesimi surprised the home keeper with a cross-cum-shot at his near post was cemented on 26 minutes when Conor Washington picked up a long ball and lifted it over the keeper for two. Unfortunately, we quickly conceded a soft looking penalty when Gunther was judged to have brought his man down and Stockton gave the home side a lifeline.

We still should have been out-of-sight well before Morecambe headed on a corner and beat MacGillivray on his line with twenty minutes left. The trouble was, we were fielding a side shorn of a natural goal-scorer and fielding a makeshift back line. Our failure during the Summer to bring in another out-and-out striker to support Stockley meant that without his services last night, we were forced once again to watch Washington and Davison labouring upfront. Neither are a real aerial threat and whilst Washington weighs in with a contribution of goals, he doesn't carry a 90 minute goal threat. Davison is still learning the game but has had a few very quiet matches of late and last night was another. I know I keep banging on about this but it was a glaring omission and we are paying the price. Stockley's aggressive game means he is going to miss matches through suspension every year and probably a few through injury too. Expecting to cope with support strikers and youngsters was very naive.

At the back too, we did at least bring in reinforcements in the Summer but the loss of Inniss, Lavelle and Pearce to injury meant a re-jig and putting Gunter back in central defence was taking a risk I think we may have avoided by using Elerewe. To be fair, we weren't exactly put under massive pressure by Morecambe and the back three of Clare, Gunter and Famewo were largely untorubled over 90 minutes but Elerewe might have made a more convincing tackle than Gunter for the penalty and his height in 72nd minute may have helped us defend the second goal better. Wise after the event, of course, and there was an argument for Gunter's experience. 

The real problem was our failure to get a third goal and kill the game. We had plenty of possession in Morecambe's half and moved the ball on the flanks and across the middle with relative ease. Trouble was, we weren't inventive enough to create the clear-cut openings we needed and there little chance of Washington or Davison meeting a cross with a towering header. Too often our eventual shots were taken without enough space and were blocked or we over-played in the build-up and lost possession. 

Mason Burstow deserved more than the five minutes he got at the end. Davison hadn't touched the ball for twenty minutes before he was subbed. Corey Blackett-Taylor had already come on but was again surprisingly ineffective. I was left wondering where all his pace has gone. I really hope it hasn't left with his contract award. 

Anyhow, a point is a point and Jackson remains undefeated in the league - 14 points from 18 and we go to Shrewsbury on Saturday for what looks likely to be a stiffer test yet. 

Final word for the 690 fans who made the long journey and supported the boys. It was great to follow them all on Twitter during the day and I found myself wishing I had been there to rack up another ground and have added my voice.