THREE second half goals saw the Shrimps slump to a second defeat in 10 games. After turning round all square at the break Cheltenham scored a fortunate opener and built on their luck with two further goals to give the scoreline a flattering look.

Boss Jim Bentley made four changes to the side with Dan Nizic starting in goal with Barry Roche ruled out injured and recalls for Aaron Wildig, Kevin Ellison and Adam McGurk.

Morecambe dominated the opening stages of the match with Kevin Ellison having his shot from 8 yards superbly stopped by Scott Flinders with an outstretched left hand.

Minutes later Ellison hit the woodwork from an Adam McGurk flick. Cheltenham grew into the game producing chances of their own from set pieces, forcing Dan Nizic into an acrobatic save to claw the ball over the bar on the 23 minute mark.

Cheltenham’s first goal proved to be the turning point of the game and not for the first time there was more than a spot of misfortune for the Shrimps. Jerrell Sellers cut inside the Shrimps’ defenders on the edge of the box and let fly with a shot that took a wicked deflection off Dean Winnard and looped over Dan Nizic’s head to give the keeper no chance.

The goal gave Cheltenham a lift and they added a second on 66 minutes. A deep free kick was launched into the Morecambe box and the ball was headed on to central defender Will Boyle who was unmarked in the box as he headed past Nizic from close range.

Morecambe hit back with substitute Callum Lang sparking some life into the Shrimps’ attack forcing Scott Flinders into a neat save this feet.

But the hopes of a comeback were short lived as the Robins scored a third on 73 minutes when Harry Pell ghosted in unmarked at the far post to head home a George Lloyd right wing cross.

Morecambe started the game sharply and could have taken the lead in only the second minute when the ball fell to the unmarked Kevin Ellison eight yards out but his well struck volleys superbly saved by Scott Flinders.

Alex Kenyon then went close with a header from the edge of the box that looped just over the bar before the home said came into the game.

Cheltenham began to take charge midway through the half and created a number of half chances.

Dan Nizic made a superb save to his left hand side to tip away a flicked header from Harry Pell and the Australian made another stunning block on the half hour when he turned a point blank header from Will Boyle over the bar.

The home side continued to threaten from set pieces and used their height well with both Jamie Grimes and Taylor Moore failing to take advantage of free headers from Joe Morrell corners.

Those balls into the Morecambe box proved vital in the second half as the Shrimps suffered only their second defeat in 10 games.

Cheltenham: Flinders, Grimes, Moore, Boyle, Grimes, Chatzitheodoridis (rep Cranston 81), Attangana (rep Rodon 75), Pell, Morrell. Sellers (rep Graham 81), Eisa. Subs not used: Wright, Bower, Lovett, Andrews.

Morecambe: Nizic, Winnard, Old, Lavelle, Conlan, Rose (rep Fleming 81), Kenyon, Wylde (rep Thompson 62), Wildig (rep Lang 62), Ellison, McGurk. Subs not used: McGowan, Oliver, Campbell, Maher.

Ref: L Swabey.