Morecambe went down to a disappointing defeat against fellow strugglers Crawley at the Globe Arena.
The Shrimps were undone by a Billy Clifford corner on 19 minutes that took a touch from Kevin Ellison into the back of the Morecambe net and they were not helped in their comeback quest by the sending off of Ellison on 33 minutes as he was penalised for an off the ball incident with Crawley defender Josh Lelan.
The day started badly for the Shrimps as Garry Thompson failed a late fitness test after picking up an injury in training on Friday but there was some good news with Barry Roche able to play after getting stitches in his knee following his injury at Exeter last week.
This was in many ways a game Morecambe could not afford to lose with both sides on just 10 points before the match.
Bentley would have been pleased with the reaction he got from his side as they dominated the game after going down to 10 men but again they fell short in what is becoming a frustrating season.
Morecambe started well with Steven Old heading straight at Glenn Morris from a Michael Rose corner and Andy Fleming also testing the Reds' keeper after getting onto the end of a deep Michael Brough cross.
For the visitors Enzio Boldewijn twice fired wide from distance and both Mark Connolly and Jimmy Smith sent efforts over the bar before Clifford gave them the lead with his clever corner.
With Morecambe reduced to 10 men after Ellison's off the ball tangle with Josh Lelan it was the Shrimps who had the better of the game.
Aaron Wildig saw a close range effort bundled over the bar and the midfielder also tested Morris with a stinging 25 yard volley that was heading for the left hand corner.
Substitute Aaron McGowan produced several dangerous crosses in the final stages of the game but the visitors held on for an important win.
Morecambe Roche; Lund (Kenyon 66), Old, Muller, Brough; Fleming, Rose (McGowan 75); Ellison, Wildig, Campbell (Turner 66); Oliver. Unused subs: Nizic, Lavelle, Deakin, Osborne.
Crawley Morris; Young (sub: McNerney 10), Lelan, Connolly, Evina; Sanoh, Bulman (Payne 34), Clifford (Meite 71), Smith, Boldewijn, Roberts. Unused subs: Mersin, Djalo, Lewis, Camara.
Attendance 1,222 (63 Crawley fans)