It was opening day delight for the Shrimps who overcame Walsall with a late Farrend Rawson winner.

Adam Mayor and Farrend Rawson came up with the goods either side of half time following Daniel Johnson’s 37^th minute equaliser.

The Shrimps enjoyed an opening spell of attacking pressure, winning three corners in quick succession, but were unable to properly test Walsall’s defensive resolve.

It was the visitors who carved out the first clear cut chance as Aramide Oteh rose highest and headed at goal from inside the box, but he couldn’t keep the ball down.

Tom Bloxham then stepped up with a fierce strike on 19 minutes which proved too hot for Owen Evans to handle, he had to palm the ball away to safety.

The deadlock was eventually broken on 25 minutes and it was Adam Mayor who netted our season opener; After working play well from right to left, Eli King threaded the ball through into the path of Mayor who made no mistake.

Seven minutes before the break and the scores were level. Daniel Johnson broke through one-on-one before slotting under Stuart Moore.

Moments before the clock ticked over into six minutes of added time, the Shrimps came close to their second of the game. Eli King with the delivery from the left found Michael Mellon, but his flicked effort was too high.

Walsall ended the half with a big opportunity; Oteh at the back post capitalised on a loose ball and stung an effort across the box, but no-one in a green shirt was equal to it.

Half-time: Morecambe 1 Walsall 1

Liam Gordon produced the first chance of the second half after finding space in the Morecambe box, turning and firing at goal, but it was comfortably over Stuart Moore’s crossbar.

Substitute Douglas James-Taylor nearly provided an instant impact for Walsall, but his header seconds after coming on flew over.

Adams’ men continued to knock on the door as JJ McKiernan rose to meet the ball with his head, but the cross had too much elevation.

The visitors came agonisingly close to taking the lead when Johnson found an angle inside the Morecambe box and produced the shot, but the ball rebounded back off the post and into the arms of Moore.

With just under 10 minutes of normal time to play, the ball fell at the feet of Mellon inside the Walsall box, but his shot on the turn was straight at Evans.

The Shrimps didn’t have to wait long to find a late winner. In the second minute of eight added on, the ball was sent in from the left and a scramble ensued after the visitors failed to clear their lines; In came Rawson to send the Mazuma Mobile Stadium into pandemonium.

Full-time: Morecambe 2 Walsall 1

Morecambe: Moore, Love ©, Bedeau, Rawson, Songo’o, Bloxham (Slew, 90+2’), King, Mellon (C Smith, 90+2’), McKiernan (Davenport, 90+2’), Mayor, Senior.

Subs not used: A Smith, Stokes, Brown, Melbourne.

Goals: Mayor (25’), Rawson (90+2’).

Bookings: Love, Songo’o, McKiernan, Rawson, Bedeau, Slew.

Red cards: None.

Walsall: Evans, Gordon, McEntee, Daniels ©, Riley, Hutchinson, Williams, Oteh (James-Taylor, 67’), Hussey, Stirk, Johnson.

Subs not used: Smith, Foulkes, Comley, Allen, Matt, Tierney.

Goals: Johnson (38’).

Bookings: Riley, McEntee, Hutchinson, Johnson.

Red cards: None.

Attendance: 4,609 (1,327 away).