MORECAMBE let a two goal slip but picked up a vital point at Brunton Park to move nine points clear of bottom club Stevenage.

Goals from Cole Stockton and Aaron Wildig gave the Shrimps a two-goal lead only for the Cumbrians to hit back with strikes from Omari Patrick and Aaron Hayden.

Boss Derek Adams made two changes to the side the lost at Grimsby last week with recalls for Jordan Slew and Carlos Mendes-Gomes.

In a game played in swirling wind and rain, the Shrimps had to defend in the early stages with Christoffer Mafoumbi having from a curling Nathan Thomas free-kick from a dangerous position on the right of the penalty area, then grabbing Hayden's bundled effort after Carlisle had won a corner on the left.

The Shrimps then found their way and scored twice in an impressive six-minute spell.

They went ahead in the 18th minute when Jordan Cranston's pass found Stockton just inside the area and the former Carlisle striker took a good before turning smartly and curling a low shot just inside Adam Collin's left-hand post.

Collin was beaten again five minutes later when the defence could only half-clear an Adam Phillips corner and Wildig produced a stunning volley from 20 yards that flew into the top corner.

Carlisle were in desperate need a response before the break and they got it in the final moments of the first half when Patrick seized on a ball on the left and fired in a shot from the edge of the box which flew in off the far post.

The hosts drew level after 66 minutes when Elliot Watt's corner from the right carried across to the far post where Hayden directed his header just inside the upright.

Both sides looked to win the game with Phillips firing not too far wide from 25 yards out and Patrick missing a golden chance to add a second when he was free in the box but could only head a left-wing cross weakly at Mafoumbi.

The Shrimps’ best effort came when Phillips’s shot was spilled by Collin who was grateful to see Jacob Mellish clear the danger with Stockton closing in on the rebound,

Carlisle: Collin, G Jones, Webster, Hayden, Anderton, Thomas (McKirdy 49), M Jones (Bridge 77), Watt, Mellish, Alessandra, Patrick (Olomola 87). Subs not used: Gray, Iredale, Charters, Hunt.

Morecambe: Mafoumbi, Old, Stockton, Wildig, Lavelle (c), Mendes-Gomes (Kenyon 81), Slew (O'Sullivan 81), Cooney, Phillips, Diagouraga, Cranston. Subs not used: Halstead, Leitch-Smith, Brewitt, Mbulu.

Ref: P Wright.

Att: 4,679.