MORECAMBE maintained their fine end of season run of results with a 2-1 victory over Cambridge at the Abbey Stadium.
Goals at either end of the game from Aaron Collins and Jordan Cranston gave the Shrimps a battling victory against a Cambridge side who deserved their consolation on 93 minutes when Tom Knowles scored his first Football League goal with a fine free kick.
The Shrimps made four changes to the side that beat Cheltenham on Monday with Mark Halstead, Ritchie Sutton and Jordan Cranston recalled and Paul McKay making his Football League debut in the centre of midfield. Barry Roche and Kevin Ellison dropped to the bench with Aaron Wildig and Zak Mills ruled out through injury.
Cambridge had the first opportunity of the match and came a whisker away from claiming the lead in the fourth minute when Hayden Coulson’s effort from close range clipped the crossbar on the way over.
But it was Morecambe who took the lead in the ninth minute. Following a Jordan Cranston corner from the right hand side, the ball found its way to Collins who swivelled and fired home from point blank range.
Another great chance followed for the Shrimps moments later as Steven Old fired over from close range when off balance from another Cranston corner.
The home side then started to control proceedings and the excellent Coulson had another effort when his shot was blocked when well placed in the box just before the half hour mark.
United continued to push with Paul Lewis having two efforts. The first of which was fired tamely at the keeper, before he shot wide from inside the box from a corner, as Cranston shot straight at Dimitar Mitov on the counter.
The home side got a glorious chance to level things up whilst in the ascendancy as Brown was felled in the area by Old for a penalty. Brown stepped up to take the spot kick but Halstead guessed correctly and produced a superb save low to his left to keep the Shrimps ahead at the break.
Cambridge Brough on striker Alex Jones for the second half and he quickly had a good chance to draw the U’s level but he directed his header wide when well placed just over six yards out.
The U’s went close again as Coulson’s deflected effort went narrowly wide of the post with 20 minutes to play.
Cambridge continued to have the bulk of the opportunities, with Lewis having his effort parried from point blank range, before substitute Jones had his follow up blocked.
Morecambe had two excellent chances back to back with just under ten minutes to play. Substitute Richie Bennett failed to convert a cross which found him well placed six yards out before Cranston had a shot beaten away by Mitov.
The game was sealed for Morecambe on the counter after Alex Canyon had cleared a David Amoo effort off the line.
The Shrimps broke and Collins fed Cranston who ran through and slotted past Mitov to all but secure the three points.
Knowles struck an injury time free-kick into the bottom corner from the edge of the box but it was too little too late for the home side as the Shrimps held on for a battling win.
Cambridge: Mitov, Davies, Darling, John, Dunk (rep Knowles 75), Deegan, Lewis (rep Ibehre 79), Brown, Hepburn-Murphy (rep Jones 46), Amoo, Coulson. Subs not used: Iron, Halliday, Carroll, Taylor.
Morecambe: Halstead, Sutton, Old, Lavelle, Conlan, Mingoia, Fleming, McKay (rep Kenyon 75), Cranston, Oliver (rep Bennett 75), Collins (rep Ellison 87). Subs not used: Roche, Mandeville, Sinclair, Hedley.
Ref: N Kinseley. Att: 4,083. (104 away)