Full-Time: Morecambe 0, Robins 0
Cheltenham and Morecambe played out a 0-0 draw at the Globe Arena in a tight contest between two good sides.The Robins were largely the better side in the first half with chances for Braham-Barrett, Elliott, Taylor and Marquis but Barry Roche was in fine form once again as he kept a frustrated Cheltenham at bay.
Morecambe were the livelier in the second period but Cheltenham weren't without their opportunities in front of goal although none came to fruition.
In hindsight perhaps neither manager will be disappointed by a strong point but the Robins fans were in fine voice at full time having witnessed another gutsy display from their Robins once again.
A top of the table clash at the Globe Arena? Perhaps FourFourTwo magazine wouldn't have predicted that ahead of the season but both Morecambe and the Robins were enjoying a fine start to the season with Mark Yates' side looking to keep up an unbeaten run against equally confident opposition.
A foot injury kept Lee Vaughan out of this fixture with Jordan Wynter deputising at right wing back and Joe Hanks returning to the starting eleven in midfield. Millwall loanee John Marquis replaced Terry Gornell up front and Steve Elliott returned to the back three after being rested in midweek.
The strike partnership of Marquis and Harrison looked like it could be a handful for Morecambe and Marquis almost handed his side a perfect start with his header from Wynter's cross but Roche was on hand to make a comfortable save.
Robins pressure continued in the early stages with both Steve Elliott and Matt Taylor rising high from corners to head over the bar but one of the golden opportunities of the first half fell to Craig Braham-Barrett after being played through on goal by Marquis but Roche was off his line quickly to deny the defender. The link-up play between Marquis and Braham-Barrett was a joy to watch unless you were a Morecambe fan and it took a desperate block from Beeley to deny the wing back once again after 21 minutes.
John Marquis was perhaps the pick of the bunch in the first half with the striker proving to be a handful and he almost saw a 20 yard volley strike the back of the net but once again Roche was on hand to tip it over the bar.
Braham-Barrett's pace was a continuous problem for Jim Bentley's side and his run down the left on 33 minutes set up another good chance for Marquis but the forward was leaning back when he struck and he saw his effort fly wide of the mark.
A late deflected chance for Redshaw offered Morecambe hope but Carson was quick to collect and both teams went in at the break at stalemate.
If the first half had been all Cheltenham then Morecambe certainly responded well at the start of the second with Kevin Ellison seeing a shot on 52 minutes sail wide of the post and there was more to come.
A wicked deflection on a Jordan Wynter cross had to be tipped over by Roche minutes later but Morecambe were soon at the throats of Cheltenham again with Jack Redshaw firing a devilish shot just wide of the near post that should have served as a warning for the Robins.
Still they continued to push in what was Morecambe's best spell of the game and Devitt was unfortunate to see a right wing strike float wide as they began to turn the screw.
Cheltenham continued to hold tight defensively and had their own opportunity after 66 minutes with Matt Richards forcing another good save from Morecambe's man of the match Roche who pushed the ball wide of the post.
The game was on a knife edge as the minutes ticked by and it looked increasingly like either side could snatch a win with just the one goal. A Kevin Ellison freekick just past 70 minutes was struck hard and low but Carson was equal to it.
It was that latest effort that forced Mark Yates' hand and he introduced Koby Arthur with 15 minutes to go in place of Harrison. Morecambe continued to push on wanting all three points and Beeley should have done better when the hosts struck on the counter but his heavy touch allowed Carson to collect inside the area.
The game was end to end and both managers were making changes from their bench in an effort to turn the game but it was Morecambe who had the more dangerous chances in the final stages. Jack Redshaw's pacey run into the box from the left saw him shoot from an angle only to find that Steve Elliott had blocked well to deny the hosts a late winner.
A late change saw the lively Marquis replaced by Terry Gornell but it was Jason Taylor who stung the gloves of Roche in injury time and the goalkeeper continued to frustrate the Robins.
Elliott's late header from the corner was the final action of an entertaining 0-0 draw at the Globe Arena. Either side could have won it but both had to settle for a share of the spoils.
MORECAMBE (4-3-3): Roche (GK); Beeley, Edwards, Parrish, Widdowson; Wright (c) (Mullin 59), Goodall, Fleming (Kenyon 83); Devitt (Amond 82), Redshaw, Ellison
SUBS NOT USED: Arestidou (GK), Doyle, Sampson, Williams
CHELTENHAM TOWN (3-5-2): Carson (GK); Brown, M Taylor (c), Elliott; Wynter, J Taylor, Richards, Hanks (Sterling-James 80), Braham-Barrett; Harrison (Arthur 74), Marquis (Gornell 90)
SUBS NOT USED: Reynolds (GK), Deaman, Black, Haworth
REFEREE: M. Heywood
ATTENDANCE: 2,273 (147 from Cheltenham)