Jeff Udall's side kicked off their Totesport.com League season with a disappointing defeat in a game played at Cammell Laird.

The Shrimps fielded a strong side with Craig Stanley, Neil Wainwright, Wayne Curtis and Henry McStay all getting some vital  fitness and there was a welcome return to action for Garry Hunter. But Morecambe, who also included former Premiership player Gareth Farrelly in their ranks, struggled to pressurise Rovers.

Michael Ricketts opened the scoring for Rovers on 22 minutes after good work from Charlie Barnett. Josh Macauley made it 2-0 16 minutes from time and Ryan Fraughan completed the scoring late in the game.

Morecambe: Davies, Jackson, Clarke, Winter, Parrish; McStay, Stanley, Hunter, Wainwright, Curtis, Farrelly. Subs: Bee, Yates, Poole, Ball, Waighte.