MORECAMBE slipped to a first defeat in seven games as two late first half goals gave Salford victory.

The Shrimps produced a fine performance but were undone by two top quality strikes Ash Hunter just before the break despite a second half reply from Cole Stockton.

Hunter’s first was a brilliant strike from 20 yards out when he curled a right footed effort superbly over Jake Turner and into the top left hand corner of the Morecambe goal.

Four minutes later Hunter made it 2-0 with another long range effort that beat Turner low to his right.

The Shrimps came back into the game with Stockton’s goal on 54 minutes. Adam Phillips won the ball in midfield and saw Stockton to his left and the striker kept his cool to get the ball onto his right foot and clip a well placed effort over the Salford keeper Vaclav Hladkey.

Morecambe, who made three changes to the side that drew with Scunthorpe on Saturday, continued to look dangerous but wasted two golden chances to draw level. Carlos Mendes-Gomes was played through on goal and when Hladkey slipped looked sure to score but volleyed over the bar.

Two minutes later Jordan Slew was played in on goal down the left but fired over.

Morecambe continued to press with Adam Phillips drilling a half volley just wide and a penalty appeal for handball waved away in stoppage time.

The Shrimps started the game on the front foot with Salford second best, seeing four players booked for late tackles as Morecambe threatened repeatedly.

Sam Lavelle saw a volley blocked by Ash Eastham and Ryan Cooney volleyed the follow up just wide before Hladky saved at full stretch from Kelvin Mellor’s well struck right foot drive.

Aaron Wildig went close when he was found at the far post but he was once again denied by the home keeper who got down low at his near post to make the save.

Salford: Hladky, Denny (rep Asante 73), Eastham, Clarke, Touray, Bernard, Burgess (rep Elliott 64), Smith (rep Threlkeld 54), Hunter, Henderson, Andrade (rep Turnbull 74). Subs not used: Evans, Boyd, Dieseruvwe.

Morecambe: Turner, Mellor, Davis, Lavelle, Cooney, Songo’o, Mendes-Gomes, Wildig, Phillips, Slew, Stockton. Subs not used: Halstead, Hendrie, Knight-Percival, Diagouraga, O’Sullivan, Pringle, Price

Ref: N Hair.