Dreams can come true

DREAMS can come true...and how.

The dream of Morecambe playing at the new Wembley stadium, the dreams of a wonder goal to win a game...the dream of being in the Football League.

Pinch yourselves folks. The Shrimps are going up; they are now a member of the elite - and yes, they did play at Wembley and hero Danny Carlton scored the sort of goal that will be replayed over and over again...and not just in the minds of those who witnessed it.

After so much play-off heartache in the past, the despair of Dagenham, the hurt of Hereford, Morecambe finally crossed the line when it mattered on the biggest stage as Exeter were left shell-shocked.

It had to be in this roller coaster ride of seasons that nothing would be straightforward - so the Shrimps had to come back from the blow of conceding an early goal and a missed penalty.

But Garry Thompson levelled and then Carlton scored sensationally in a manner that will take many years to top to take the Shrimps up.

The crowd favourite collected Thompson's long ball and turned his marker inside out before quite astonishingly finding the top corner with a rapier-like left footer.

The stadium fell silent for a second before Morecambe's magnificent travelling army exploded into life - and the Shrimps were up.

It was the most glorious of finishes to the most dramatic of games and most dramatic of seasons at the best stadium on the planet...Get in.

From the moment the players lined up on the turf this was going to be Morecambe's day. The blue-shirted heroes were warrior like - and even when the Shrimps suffered the worst possible start in eight minutes they didn't freeze.

A quick free-kick saw Jon Challinor dance away from Chris Blackburn before crossing to Lee Phillips to head home.

Stomachs churned and a sick feeling encompassed the Morecambe fans as Exeter's huge support cranked up the volume.

But the tide turned, especially after Exeter captain Chris Todd brutally assaulted the magnificent Craig Stanley with the sort of studs-up lunge that deserves a red card.

As Stanley lay prone on the hallowed turf, his colleagues collared Todd. The Shrimps were not going to be bullied - and then they started to play.

Thompson fizzed a 25-yarder just wide and Wayne Curtis headed over when he should really have scored. Exeter were in a panic and keeper Paul Jones scrambled across his goal to clutch a Carlton header.

There was one moment of panic as Phillips looked to make it 2-0 after escaping Jim Bentley - but Morecambe's rookie keeper Scott Davies saved marvellously full stretch to his left.

Davies is a fearless young man - and his save summed up the Morecambe spirit. They were not under the arch to make up the numbers.

Carlton, having the game of his life, was denied by Phillips before the Shrimps should have levelled.

The pace of Carlton led Todd into the crazy lunge - another crazy lunge - and referee Michael Oliver had no doubt it was a penalty.

The fans cheered - but Curtis got it all wrong from the spot and Phillips made the save before blocking the rebound.

Even that didn't deflate the Shrimp spirit and three minutes before the break Thompson chased a lost cause and forced Billy Jones into an error before cracking home via the crossbar from 20 yards in spectacular style.

The roof was raised; Thompson ran 90 yards to party in front of the fans as boss Sammy McIlroy smiled. He knew it was a turning point.

Morecambe were in the ascendancy and played a great game in the second half. They were in total control, even though Exeter had a go - but never looked like scoring even when Davies got a bit carried away with his cool-as-you-like attitude and smacked a clearance into the stomach of Adam Stansfield.

Luckily the ball rebounded to safety - and Davies learned his lesson. Stanley was tackling like a truck, Neil Sorvel was classy and the Morecambe defence was gigantic.

Exeter never stood a chance - and eight minutes from time the magical moment arrived.

The Grecians had enjoyed a two-minute spell of pressure when Thompson hooked clear downfield.

There was seemingly no chance. Carlton though collected the ball and turned inside before unleashing his thunderbolt right into the top corner. It was a great moment; it was the goal of magnitude even Carlton will not realise until he is sat with his grandkids on his lap saying that was me'.

Yes, it was that good.

McIlroy raced onto the field and did a Jose Mourinho-style roll on the grass before being jumped upon by Danny Adams. Those are images that will be shown and shown and shown and shown.

It was magical.

Exeter had now gone and as the clock ran into stoppage time Matty Gill lost the plot as he firstly two-footed Stanley before head-butting the midfielder as he tried to get up.

Oliver pulled out the straight red card and that was the end for City as the Shrimps eased through the five minutes of the four scheduled minutes of added time before the party started.

Job done...