SHRIMPS’ veteran Kevin Ellison earned the Shrimps a deserved point with an 88th minute equaliser in this important game against League 2 strugglers Notts County.

Ellison, who came off the bench early in the second half, levelled from close range to cancel out Kristian Dennis’ 52nd minute header for the visitors.

It was a point that Morecambe deserved for their second-half efforts but they could be forgiven for feeling short changed.

In the 90th minute, Steve Old’s header back across goal struck the hand of County defender Jamie Turley, only for referee Dean Whitestone to wave away furious penalty appeals.

Whether there was a hangover from that midweek loss or not, Jim Bentley’s players were not at the races in the first half.

There was a lack of urgency and, when they did get forward, the end product was too often missing.

Not that the visitors shone in that regard either as they had the only shot on target of the half when Dennis was foiled by the onrushing Mark Halstead.

Nathan Thomas had a shot deflected behind the Morecambe goal and shot wastefully off target as half-time came as something of a relief.

In contrast to their opening 45 minutes, the Shrimps were much more at it after the break with A-Jay Leitch-Smith off target and Liam Mandeville having an effort tipped behind by Ross Fitzsimons inside the first five minutes.

However, they fell behind moments later when Dennis, who scored at the Globe Arena for Chesterfield last season, did the trick again in heading past Halstead.

That was the signal for Ellison and Garry Thompson to come off the bench with their introductions also signalling a change of shape from back three to back four.

The Shrimps then went on to dominate the final stages with Jordan Cranston firing just wide and Luke Conlan blazing over from a good opening after working his way into the box.

They forced a series of corners at the end but it looked like they would lose out until Ellison popped up in the six yard box to volley home Sam Lavelle’s knock down.

Morecambe: Halstead, Yarney (rep Thompson 53), Old, Lavelle, Conlan, Cranston, Tutte, Kenyon (rep Oswell 82), Mandeville (rep Ellison 53), Leitch-Smith, Oliver. Subs not used: Szczepaniak, Hedley, Piggott, Mendes-Gomes.

Notts County: Fitzsimons, Davies, Ward, Turley, Jones, Milsom, Hewitt, Boldewijn (rep Husin 8), Patching, Thomas, Dennis (rep Etete 90). Subs not used: Pindroch, Tootle, Duffy, Vaughan, Brisley.

Referee: D Whitestone.

Att: 1,658.