THE Shrimps suffered a shocking start to the season when they shipped six goals to Crewe on the opening day of the campaign.

Two goals from Alex Nicholls and James Jones sandwiched in between strikes from Charlie Kirk and Chris Porter saw the Shrimps, who included five debutants, suffer their heaviest ever opening day defeat.

Morecambe suffered the worst possible start when they went 2-0 down in the opening nine minutes of the game.

Dave Artell’s side were swiftly out of the blocks and took the lead after just six minutes. Jordan Bowery was the architect of the goal with a great run down the right to get past Alex Kenyon and play the ball for Alex Nicholls whose shot was blocked on the line by Jordan Cranston before the loose ball was slammed home by Charlie Kirk.

Three minutes later it was 2-0 to the home side.

Kirk this time claimed the assist with a cross from the left that was met by Nicholls who directed a looping header past the helpless Roche.

The shell shocked Shrimps finally settled and went close to pulling one back on 16 minutes when Rhys Oates headed Kevin Ellison’s right wing cross inches wide with home keeper Dave Richards beaten.

From there however it was Crewe who looked the more dangerous and they had several chances to extend their lead.

Kirk forced a good save from Roche with a cross come shot from the left hand side and Bowery shot straight at the Morecambe keeper from 12 yards out when he should have done much better.

Harry Pickering wasted a golden chance on 43 minutes when he was played into the box but could only find the side netting.

The Shrimps started the second half well with Oates forcing Dave Richards into a neat save with a shot from the edge of the box but any hopes of a comeback were dashed on 54 minutes as Nicholls did well to volley sharply past Riche from eight yards out.

Morecambe hit back again with Vadaine Oliver hitting the post and failing to beat Richards when through one on one but they were undone by three more goals.

Jones scored his first on 72 minutes with a long range shot before substitute Chris Porter headed home a fifth from close range two minutes from time.

Crewe piled on the agony with a sixth goal in injury time when Jones was again given too much space in midfield to fire a lot shot past Roche.

Crewe: Richards, Ng, Ray (rep Hunt 28), Nolan, Pickering, Jones, Wintle, Green, Kirk (rep Ainley 75), Nicholls (rep Porter 75), Bowery. Subs not used: Garratt, Raynes, Lowery, Reilly.

Morecambe: Roche, Mills, Old, Kenyon, Cranston, Tutte (rep Wildig 65), Fleming, Oates (rep Sinclair 75), Mandeville (rep Oswell 62), Ellison, Oliver. Subs not used: Halstead, Conlan,Jagne, Brownsword.

Ref: A Young.

Att: 3,559.