THE Shrimps slipped to their third defeat on the trot when they went down to Cheltenham tonight.
Two Darren Carter goals at both ends of the game sunk the Shrimps who also ended the game with 10 men after a controversial sending off of Kevin Ellison.
Boss Jim Bentley made four changes to the side that last against Plymouth with Andy Fleming, Chris McCready, Lewis Alessandra and Richard Brodie all recalled to the starting line up.
But unfortunately the Shrimps got off to the worst possible start when they went a goal down after just 90 seconds when Carter volleyed smartly past Barry Roche from the edge of the area with a smart finish.
That goal lifted the home side who dominated the early stages with Roche having to be at his best to save smartly from Chris Zebroksi before Shaun Harrad curled an effort wide of the left hand post.
But after a shaky start the Shrimps came into the game and created the better chances.
Robbie Threlfall played in Richard Brodie with a superb through ball and the striker rounded keeper Scott Brown but saw his effort cleared off the line by Steve Elliott.
Morecambe forced a string of corners and home keeper Brown had to be at his best to save smartly from Chris McCready’s close range header and Kevin Ellison also went close with a looping header which grazed the top of the crossbar.
The Shrimps started the second half brightly as well but were rocked by a red card for Ellison after he bundled into Steve Elliott off the ball and received the softest of sendings off.
It was a decision that lifted Cheltenham and Chris Zebroski forced Roche into a good save and then made a mess of a counter attack as he went for an individual goal when he had players either side of him.
Despite being a man down however the Shrimps then enjoyed a period on top and Andy Fleming forced Brown into a brilliant late save with a fierce volley from the edge of the box.
With 90 minutes on the clock the Shrimps were still the side doing most of the pressing but were undone by an injury time second. As they pushed bodies forward Cheltenham broke and Carter was left to slide the ball past Roche from the left hand side.
Cheltenham: Brown; Jombati, Elliott, Bennett, Jones; Pack, Deering (rep Penn 46), Carter, McGlashan; Zebroski (rep Duffy 75), Harrad (rep Mohamed 46). Subs not used: Lowe, Hooman, Goulding, Roberts.
Morecambe: Roche; Parrish, Fenton, McCready, Threlfall; Wright; McDonald; Alessandra (rep Redshaw 81), Ellison, Fleming; Brodie.
Subs not used: Arestidou, Haining, Reid, Drummond, McGee, Burrow.
Booked: Fenton. Sent off: Ellison.
Referee: M Naylor
Att: 2,563