Ged Garner opened his Morecambe account in fine fashion, scoring a brace as the Shrimps claimed all three points in West Sussex.

Ged Brannan made four changes from last weekend’s squad which fell to defeat against Colchester United. 

David Tutonda and Joel Senior returned to the starting line-up, whilst Julian Larsson and Nelson Khumbeni were handed their debuts.

Harry Forster broke the deadlock after finding the far corner of Archie Mair’s goal from distance, on 17 minutes.

Ged Garner levelled the contest after scoring his first goal for the Shrimps ten minutes before the break after turning home a Tutonda cross.

As the game entered the closing stages, Garner was on hand again, this time showing superb composure and accuracy to fire Ged Brannan’s men into the lead confirming maximum points on the road.

Crawley Town started the Sky Bet League Two meeting the strongest, having the best part of possession in the opening exchanges.

On six minutes, the hosts floated a free-kick into the area, Harry Forster got on the end of it and fired a left-footed attempt inches wide of Mair’s near post.

Morecambe forged the next opening as they looked to catch Red Devils on the counter, the ball finally found its way to Tutonda, who hammered an effort on Corey Addai’s goal, ultimately winning the Shrimps a corner.

Crawley opened the scoring soon after, Adam Campbell knocked the ball into the path of Forster, whose strike from the edge of the area flew into the bottom corner.

Morecambe looked to respond instantly as Bedeau played a perfectly weighted ball into the path of Garner, but his effort was well saved by Addai.

The home side came close to a second just after the half hour mark as Nick Trasoulla twisted and turned through the Morecambe defence only to fire his strike wide.

Minutes later, the Shrimps found themselves back on level terms. David Tutonda did excellently to keep the attacking move alive before crossing into the path of Garner who prodded home from close range.

Looking for a quick response, Klaidi Lolos found himself in a shooting position and pulled the trigger from the edge of the box, but his effort lacked the placement to test Archie Mair.

Shortly after bagging his first Morecambe goal, Garner found the back of the net once again, but it wouldn't stand on this occasion as the linesman flagged for offside.

The hosts’ skipper Dion Conroy was cautioned after hauling Garner to the ground shortly before the interval.

Half-time: Crawley Town 1 Morecambe 1

Two minutes into the second-half we came agonisingly close to gaining the lead. Julian Larsson’s bursting run down the left ended with him finding Garner centrally, whose low shot was saved.

The Shrimps’ bright start to the second-half continued as Senior’s free-kick found Rawson, the skipper nodded back across goal to Bedeau who turned home from close range, but the linesman once again flagged for offside.

On 65 minutes, Brown’s short corner found its way to Larsson on the edge of the box, but the Sweden youth international hammered off target.

Midway through the second-half, Ged Brannan made a double switch as Jake Taylor and Gwion Edwards entered the fray, the latter coming close to firing us ahead on 73 minutes following a mazy run towards goal, but his effort curled just beyond the far post.

Soon after, Taylor also had an impact as he cut inside and lashed a ferocious effort towards goal, but the midfielder’s shot ultimately went wide.

Morecambe took a deserved lead on 84 minutes. 

Garner showed great skill and power to get beyond Conroy before arrowing an effort into the far corner, much to the joy of the travelling Shrimps’ faithful behind Addai’s goal.

Ged Brannan’s defence stood firm in what remained to see us travel home with all three points.

Full-time: Crawley Town 1 Morecambe 2

Crawley Town: Addai, Conroy ©, Kelly, Ransom, Maguire, Lolos, Orsi, Forster (Gordon, 60’), Tsaroulla, Campbell (Roles, 85’), Wright.

Subs not used: Sandford, Darcy, Olagunju, Adeyemo, Mukena.

Goals: Forster (17’).

Bookings: Conroy, Wright.

Red cards: None.

Morecambe: Mair, Tutonda (Melbourne, 85’), Bedeau, Rawson ©, Songo’o (Slew, 85’), Adams, Garner, Larsson (Harrack, 90’), Senior, Brown (Edwards, 68’), Khumbeni (Taylor, 68’).

Subs not used: A Smith, C Smith.

Goals: Garner (35’, 84’).

Bookings: Tutonda, Harrack.

Red cards: None.

Attendance: 2,856 (134 away).