THE Shrimps suffered their second defeat in three games as two quality goals earned Carlisle their fifth win in succession.

Long-range strikes in each half from Jamie Devitt and Jack Sowerby were enough to give the points.

The highest home crowd of the season for Morecambe – boosted by almost 1,800 travelling fans – saw a game where the Shrimps shared possession with their in form rivals but once again fail to produce a cutting edge in the final third of the field.

Boss Jim Bentley made three changes to the side that drew at Colchester with recalls for Zak Mills, Kevin Ellison and Vadaine Oliver.

Oliver almost made his way through in the opening seconds but saw his effort blocked before Carlisle took the lead through a familiar source. Former Morecambe favourite Devitt broke the deadlock in the 15th minute when he et a throw-in run across his body before unleashing a dipping 20-yarder past Morecambe keeper Mark Halstead.

That triggered a spell in the ascendancy for the visitors with Kelvin Etuhu’s shot blocked by Steve Old and Tom Parkes heading over from a corner. At the other end, Morecambe struggled to create much in the first half with long-range efforts from Jordan Cranston their main attacking threat.

Bentley’s players upped their game after the break but, nevertheless, failed to create any clear opportunities.

Carlisle keeper Adam Collin kept out shots from Rhys Oates and Carlos Mendes Gomes before Sowerby made it 2-0 on 75 minutes.

In similar fashion to Devitt, the midfielder cut in from the left-hand side before lashing an unstoppable 20-yarder beyond Halstead.

It could have been worse for Morecambe as Ashley Nadesan and Hallam Hope both fired across the face of goal when well placed.

Collin needed two attempts to keep out another Cranston shot at the other end as the Shrimps could not find a way through.

Morecambe: Halstead, Mills, Lavelle, Old, Conlan, Mendes Gomes (Mandeville 83), Kenyon (Tutte 66), Cranston, Ellison, Oates (Leitch-Smith 66), Oliver. Subs not used: Szczepaniak, Oswell, Yarney, Hedley.

Carlisle: Collin, Liddle, Gerrard, Parkes, Gillesphey (Bennett 87), Sowerby (Kennedy 90), Etuhu, Devitt (Slater 83), Nadesan, Hope, Grainger. Subs not used: Gray, Miller, Jones, McCarron.

Referee: Ben Toner.

Attendance: 3,749.