THE Shrimps secured a battling draw to pick up a valuable point against strugglers Notts County.

In a game of few chances, the Shrimps defended well to frustrate a home side desperate for points while at the same time almost speaking the three points with two of the best chances of the afternoon.

Boss Jm Bentley was forced into making two changes from the side that beat MK Dons with injuries to Aaron Wildig and Rhys Oates meaning recalls for Jordan Cranston and Kevin Ellison.

The first real action of note came on 14 minutes when Morecambe's Richie Bennett was booked for a late challenge on Stubbs.

A minute later, Richard Duffy met a Michael Doyle corner on the volley but could only send the ball across goal and wide, despite Doyle's best efforts to keep it in on the byline.

Former Shrimps’ star Lewis Alessandra followed up shortly afterwards with a sliced effort from just outside the area following Luke Conlan's skewed header but the ball flew well wide.

Former Blackpool man David Vaughan then sent a low, left-footed effort wide from 25 yards before the Magpies’ best chance when Enzio Boldewijn latched on to Tootle's clipped pass into the channel before drilling the ball low into the middle only for Alessandra being prevented from reaching the ball by Zak Mills’s superb covering block.

Morecambe's response came from Bennett, who produced an outstanding left-wing cross to give former Notts loanee Aaron Collins the opportunity to turn the ball home at the back post but he arrived just too late to connect with the ball.

That wasn't the last of the action, though, and the Shrimps perhaps should have taken a 1-0 lead into the break after Alex Kenyon picked out Steven Old unmarked in the middle. The big defender could only nod his cross over the bar.

There were no changes at the break and the second half began in scrappy style with Rose writing his name into the book for a foul on the evergreen Kevin Ellison.

Collins bobbled a shot straight at Schofield before Tootle responded with a 25-yard volley that flew over.

Notts went much closer to taking the lead moments later as Halstead made a great double save.

Vaughan won possession high up the field before playing Boldewijn through one-on-one with Mark Halstead but the keeper got down low to parry the ball out to Rose 20 yards from goal and the former Grimsby man’s follow up was also saved.

As the game drew to a close Collins forced Ryan Schofield into a smart save low to his left with a shot from distance.

The Magpies piled forward at the death but the Shrimps defended superbly to secure a fine point.

Notts County: Schofield, Tootle, Duffy, Stubbs, Mills, Vaughan (rep Patching 83), Doyle, Rose, Alessandra(rep Mackail-Smith 75), Boldewijn, Hemmings. Subs not used: Fitzsimons, Bird, Barclay, Gomis, Dunn.

Morecambe: Halstead, Mills, Old, Sutton, Conlan, Mingoia, Cranston (rep Fleming 70), Kenyon, Ellison, Collins, Bennett (rep Mandeville 83). Subs not used: Roche, Dalby, Mendes-Gomes, Brownsword, McKay.

Ref: K Johnson.

Att: 5,830.