A deserved 2-2 draw at Wigan was followed by a harsh 4-3 defeat to Tranmere for Morecambe's youth string. The performance against quite possibly the best of the season despite some naïve defending.

With Carlisle the visitors Morecambe could have been excused for throwing the towel in never haven beaten Carlisle - a two all draw being their best return. But today was to be a day of firsts, Mike Evans scoring his first league goal and his first double of the season.

Morecambe played some scintillating football throughout and with keeper Proctor marshalling the play from the back Morecambe looked organised and efficient. The signs were there from five minutes in, Evans played the ball to Farley and his run left the full back dazed before seeing his cross met by Wraight but over the bar it went.

Morecambe were not to be denied for long, a Carlisle corner was caught by proctor and his throw found Evans in space, with Silver and Wraight making intelligent runs, bursting from the back. Mike Evans simply used them as a decoy running through and calmly sliding the ball under Gillespie. Carlisle hit back almost immediately, Mark Beck hit the bar with a header and Dan Jones had a couple of half chances well saved by Proctor.

The second half saw Morecambe take control. The desire of Clark matched by the energy of Silver both propped up by the strength of Cowperthwaite and Yates. The second goal looked inevitable as Morecambe pushed first Clarke hit the bar, then Gillespie denied Farley from close range. 15 minutes from the end Morecambe looked to have wrapped the game up. Eden broke down the left, Ball latched on to his pass and although his powerful left foot shot was saved Mike Evans pounced to double his and Morecambe tally for the day.

With Morecambe still celebrating Carlisle kicked off and 9 passes saw a goal for Phil Towler from close range.

Mike Evans was unfortunate not to complete his hat trick on 90 mins. His opportunist volley with Gillespie stranded 20 yards outside his box flicked off the crossbar and to safety.

Carlisle Youth boss Eric Kinder said: "We played well in the first half even though we were a goal down at the break. We played some good football, but none of them are used to this pace and we struggled to keep up a bit in the second half.

"I'm very pleased overall. These lads are on a steep learning curve now, but it's a very encouraging start from them."

Morecambe: Proctor, Watson, Yates, Cowperthwaite, Eden, Hall (Parrish 65), Clark, M Evans, Farley (Parkinson 75), Silver, Wraight (Ball 80)

Subs not used; Calvert

Carlisle United: Gillespie, Bonner, McGlen, Swinglehurst, Symington, McKenna, Towler, Richardson, Osmond (Todd 70), Beck (Gill 75), Jones.

Subs (not used) - Ball, Sloan.