Grimsby boss Dave Artell said Gavan Holohan was “devastated” after missing a last-gasp chance to secure the Mariners a vital three-point haul at the Mazuma Stadium.
Holohan looked certain to bundle home Abo Eisa’s cross into the Morecambe goal with virtually the last kick of the game but a late bobble saw the ball come off his shin and spoon over the bar.
Coming into the game on the back of a 5-1 home defeat by Doncaster, the injury-hit Mariners produced a resilient performance with Danny Rose giving them the lead after just 80 seconds, only for Jordan Slew to level early in the second half and make it 1-1.
Artell, a former Morecambe player, said: “Gavan was devastated at the end after the late chance and you had to feel for him as he had done so well to get onto the cross.
“We had a few meetings in the week and a few open and honest conversations with the players after last week’s defeat and we had a really productive week. We all knew we needed a response after the Doncaster game and I thought we got that.
“We have had illness in the camp all week and were missing some players who had been involved in a car crash in midweek so we only had 18 fit players but every one of them put in a great shift.
“The lads showed great resilience and determination off the ball and if we had been a bit more clinical with it, especially at the end of the game, we could have taken the three points.”
Morecambe boss Ged Brannan said his side’s poor start cost them the three points.
He said: “It was a tough one to take really because it was criminal to give Danny Rose so much space in the box like we did.
“We have been conceding early goals far too often this season and we can’t expect to come back and win games all the time.
“I can’t fault the lads for their efforts to get back into the game and some of our football was excellent after a poor start but you can’t keep putting yourself under pressure week in, week out.
“There were lots of positives but we couldn’t get the second goal and they almost won it at the end so at the end of the day it is a point in the right direction and we will keep pushing up that table.”
After Rose tucked away Harry Clifton’s cross, Morecambe struggled to break down a resilient Mariners defence.
Gwion Edwards was the Shrimps’ main dangerman and, after forcing Harvey Cartwright into a neat save late in the first half, he went on to provide the assist for Slew as his cross from the right was converted by the striker.
Edwards then saw a shot from the edge of the box superbly saved by Cartwright before Slew’s dipping cross from the left hit the top of the crossbar, with the rebound put wide by Jordy Hiwula.
As gaps opened up Grimbsy almost snatched victory at the death. Eisa smashed a free-kick inches wide before providing the cross that Holohan somehow failed to convert.
Euro 2024 absence caps cruel period for Netherlands midfielder De Roon
Netherlands will be without Marten de Roon at Euro 2024 after an injury blow capped a cruel period for the Atalanta midfielder.
De Roon suffered a muscle injury two weeks ago in Atalanta's 2-0 Coppa Italia final loss to Juventus, subsequently missing Gian Piero Gasperini's side lifting the Europa League with victory over Bayer Leverkusen.
The Netherlands international was in the stands in Dublin for the 3-0 win over Xabi Alonso's Bundesliga champions that secured Atalanta's first European trophy in history.
Having already been named in Ronald Koeman's 30-man provisional squad for the Euros in Germany, starting in June, De Roon suffered another gut-wrenching punch after his absence was confirmed.
"I can't imagine I've had a week in my career, or in my life, that has had so many ups and downs," the Atalanta man wrote on social media on Monday.
"Lost the Coppa Italia, couldn't play the final, win the Europa League.
"In that last euphoric state, I spent a lot of time with the medical staff: it turns out I can't play the Euros.
"I will get over it, I will watch the squad and my friends as a fan, but for now it's a very tough day."
De Roon has won 42 caps for his country and featured at the last European Championships and the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.
His absence means Koeman has to cut just six players down from his provisional squad for the final 23-man selection, which will be announced on Wednesday.
Netherlands open their Euro 2024 campaign against Poland on June 16 before facing France and Austria in the group stages.
Koeman's squad assembled on Monday for their pre-tournament training camp, ahead of warm-up matches with Canada and Iceland.
Bochum avoid Bundesliga relegation after play-off penalty drama downs Dusseldorf
Bochum will be playing in the Bundesliga once again next campaign after staving off relegation with a penalty shoot-out victory over Fortuna Dusseldorf in the play-offs.
Heiko Butscher's side finished 16th in the German top-flight table in the 2023-24 season, though got the better of their 2.Bundesliga opponents to secure another season in the competition.
Needing to overturn a three-goal deficit from the first-leg play-off defeat, Philipp Hofmann stole the show with a goal in either half before Kevin Stoger's 70th-minute penalty sent the tie to extra time.
The pair could not be separated across an additional 30 minutes at Dusseldorf Arena, ensuring spot-kicks were required to decide the fate of the two Bundesliga hopefuls.
Andre Hoffmann missed Dusseldorf's first but Erhan Masovic also faltered, leaving a winner-takes-all scenario in a sudden-death shoot-out with the score at 4-4.
Maximilian Wittek then converted before Takashi Uchino fired wide, sealing a 6-5 penalty shoot-out victory for Bochum after a 3-0 win on Monday snatched a 3-3 aggregate draw.
Dusseldorf finished third in Germany's second division this season and will be forced for, at least, another campaign in 2. Bundesliga after this play-off heartbreak.
This was the first time a play-off has gone to penalties since the Bundesliga reintroduced the fixture, with Bochum ultimately prevailing to keep their top-flight status intact.
Mitrovic clinches last-gasp success for Saudi Pro League champions Al-Hilal
Aleksandar Mitrovic produced a last-gasp winner for Al-Hilal as the Saudi Pro League champions signed off with a dramatic 2-1 victory over Al-Wedha on Monday.
Jorge Jesus' side finished the league campaign unbeaten across the 34-game season, though needed late heroics from top scorer Mitrovic to snatch all three points.
Mohamed Kanno opened the scoring for the visiting champions in the first half but Yahya Naji's second-half leveller pegged Al-Hilal back at King Abdulaziz Sports City Stadium.
Yet Mitrovic provided the decisive moment in the 92nd minute, converting a Mohammed Al Burayk assist for his 28th league goal of the season.
The Serbia international ranks only behind Cristiano Ronaldo in this campaign's scoring charts, after the Al-Nassr forward claimed a piece of Saudi League history in a 4-2 victory over Al-Ittihad.
Ronaldo moved past Abderrazak Hamdallah's 34-goal tally – in the 2018-19 season – after his deadly double took him to 35 strikes and broke the single-season scoring record in the competition.
Victory for Al-Nassr means they finish second behind the impressive Al-Hilal, while Al-Ahli had already secured third in the standings before their 1-0 victory over Al-Fayha.
Roberto Firmino scored the only goal of the game in that narrow triumph, finding the net after 85 minutes at Prince Abdullah al-Faisal Stadium.
At the other end of the table, Abha Club – who had Marcel Tisserand sent off late on – suffered heartbreak on the final day after losing 2-1 to bottom-placed Al-Hazem to seal their relegation.
Ahmed Abdu opened the scoring to boost Abha's survival hopes but second-half goals from Muhammed Badamosi and Mohammed Al Thani proved their undoing.
Al-Akhoud beat the drop after overcoming Al-Tai, who went down with Abha and Al-Hazem, 2-0 thanks to goals from Saviour Godwin and Leandre Tawamba at Prince Abdul Aziz bin Musa'ed Stadium.
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