The first Lancashire derby of the season sees Morecambe travel to the Store First Stadium looking to continue a good start to the season and beat Stanley in their own back yard.

The Reds have an unbeaten record against the Shrimps in League Two but know all about Jim Bentley’s side and face a tough test to keep that run going.

John Coleman doesn’t expect Kal Naismith to return to the squad this week following his recent bereavement but there are no new injury worries for the Reds.

Michael Liddle has returned to training and Adam Buxton has stepped up his recovery from injury.

The Shrimps are now in their eighth Football League season following promotion from the Conference in 2007 and have done a superb job of cementing themselves as a League Two side.

Since that win at Wembley that sealed promotion they’ve become known for their good starts to the season and under the management of Jim Bentley have established themselves as contenders for the top half of the table and play-off places.

A move to the Globe Arena from Christie Park has been another step in the club’s transition from non-league to Football League.

Jim Bentley

At 38 Bentley is one of the younger managers in the Football League.

As a player he started his career in the youth academy at Manchester City but failed to make the breakthrough into the first-team.

Bentley only ever played for two clubs throughout his 14 year professional career the first being Telford United, where he made 161 appearances for the club in a five-year association with the club before signing for Morecambe in 2002.

He is seen as something of a Shrimps legend and it is easy to see why as the commanding central defender played 328 times for the club scoring 29 goals in the process.

He has taken charge of 171 games as manager of Morecambe and has overseen 55 wins as boss of the club.

Kevin Ellison

Ellison signed for Morecambe in the summer of 2011 following his release from Rotherham United.

The wide man started his career in non league football with Southport, Chorley, Conwy United and Altrincham before joining Leicester City in 2001.

He only made one appearance for the Foxes and was soon off to Stockport County followed shortly after by spells with Chester and Hull City.

The experienced 35-year-old has over 300 Football League appearances to his name.

Stanley have a superb record against the Shrimps in recent years, winning ten of the 14 League Two meetings against their neighbours. There have been four draws, with tomorrow’s visitors yet to win a league game since their promotion.

However, the Shrimps have been recent victors at the Store First Stadium, winning 2-0 in the Johnstone’s Paint Trophy in September 2012 thanks to goals from Jack Redshaw and Kevin Ellison.

Last season Stanley won both meetings, 2-1 at the Globe thanks to a last gasp Peter Murphy goal and 5-1 at the Store First Stadium with Kal Naismith, Lee Molyneux, Tom Aldred and Dean Winnard the scorers.

Stanley are unbeaten in two games following the weekend draw at Newport County and won their last home game, 3-1 against Hartlepool United.

The Shrimps were beaten 2-0 at home by Exeter on Sunday after a win and a draw of their own.

They’ve won their last two league away games against Southend and Burton Albion.

Stanley

James Gray 5
Kal Naismith 4
Rob Atkinson 3
Sean Maguire 3

Morecambe

Kevin Ellison 6
Jack Redshaw 3
Paul Mullin 3

Stephen Martin (Staffordshire)

Mr Martin has been a regular on the Football League scene for the last three years and now is often handed the responsibility of taking charge of Championship games.

His last Stanley game was the 3-2 home defeat to Scunthorpe United on 14th February.

This season: 12 games, 34 yellow cards, 0 red cards

Admission prices for the game are:

Adults £20
Over 65′s & Students £15
Under 18′s £10
Accompanied Under 12′s £5 (or FREE if wearing Halloween fancy dress – 311014 halloween poster)

For more information on Morecambe, why not visit their official website www.morecambefc.com or their Twitter feed @ShrimpsOfficial

There are a large number of connections between the clubs over the years with a number of Morecambe players returning to the Store First Stadium having previously played for the Reds tomorrow.

The likes of Laurence Wilson, Padraig Amond, Mark Hughes, Jack Sampson and Jamie Devitt have all turned out for both clubs and now find themselves at the Globe Arena.

Stanley’s record appearance holder Paul Mullin (not to be confused with his namesake currently in the Morecambe squad)  made 66 appearances for the Shrimps in a two year spell with the club.