THE Shrimps made it two wins in two games as they came from a goal behind to beat struggling Grimsby Town at Blundell Park.
Elliot Embleton had given the Mariners the lead early on, but another second half capitulation saw Rhys Oates and Liam Mandeville claim an important three points for the Shrimps at the bottom of the table.
Shrimps’ boss Jim Bentley made three changes to the side that beat Macclesfield with Andy Fleming and Alex Kenyon both injured and Josef Yarney dropping to the bench as Steven Old, Andrew Tutte and Vadaine Oliver all started.
Morecambe could have found themselves ahead within the first three minutes when the Grimsby defence failed to react to a long ball, but A-Jay Leitch-Smith could only send his volley straight at James McKeown.
Moments later Andrew Tutte found himself in space on the right of the penalty area, with McKeown again coming to the rescue with the ball destined for the top corner.
The Shrimps were shocked when Grimsby took the lead with their first attack of note which brought their first goal in six games. With nine minutes on the clock, good work by Jordan Cook saw him turn into space and find Elliot Embleton, who curled a shot past keeper Barry Roche from the edge of the penalty area.
Morecambe hit back and Grimsby keeper McKeown thwarted Tutte again on the half-hour mark as the midfielder looked to catch him off guard with a snap shot from distance, but the long-serving stopper reacted just in time to palm over.
John Welsh’s usual hard work in the middle almost led to a second for the Mariners as Cook just lifted his effort over the bar with Roche looking worried, before some sloppy play gave Vadaine Oliver a similar opportunity at the other end with an identical result.
Town held onto their lead going into the break, and came back out attacking as Wes Thomas smashed the ball against the crossbar after Embleton’s cross from the left.
But just as the hosts looked to have things under control, Morecambe found themselves back level.
Former Mariner Rhys Oates waltzed through a static Town defence to work his way into the box, where he placed the ball past McKeown to leave everything to play for in the last half-hour.
Moments later, the Shrimps were in front when Liam Mandeville’s left wing cross evaded everyone and ended up in the bottom left hand corner of the Grimsby goal.
Both teams pressed to the end and the Shrimps survived late Grimsby pressure in the seven minutes of added to time to pick up another vital three points.
Grimsby: McKeown, Harry Davis, Luke Hendrie, Whitmore, Collins, Woolford, Embleton, Welsh, Hessenthaler, Cook, Thomas
Subs: Russell, Hall-Johnson, Clifton, Pringle, Rose, Hooper, Vernam.
Morecambe: Roche, Mills, Lavelle, Old, Conlan, Wildig, Tutte, Mandeville, Leith-Smith, Oates, Oliver. Subs: Halstead, Jagne, Hedley, Yarney, Cranston, Piggott, Oswell.