MORECAMBE came from behind to take a well earned point in Derek Adams’s first league home game.
John O’Sullivan was the Shrimps’ goal hero after levelling Hallam Hope's 47th minute opener for Chris Beech’s side.
Adams made one change from the side that went down at Crewe a fortnight ago with O’Sullivan recalled with Sam Lavelle serving the first of his four match ban.
Carlisle produced the first effort of note on 11 minutes when the highly rated Jarrad Branthwaite saw his long-range effort held by Mark Halstead.
The keeper also dealt with Mike Jones’ attempt before the Shrimps almost led with the best move of the half.
Cole Stockton and Lewis Alessandra combined well, the latter’s first-time ball met by the onrushing Aaron Wildig but his shot was straight at Adam Collin.
Steve Old headed over from a Wildig corner but it was the visitors who ended the half stronger with Thomas seeing one shot deflected into the side netting and sending another wildly off target.
Thomas was to play a key role as the visitors broke the deadlock two minutes after the break with a long ball that caught out Ritchie Sutton who allowed Hallam Hope to sneak behind him and slot the ball past Halstead..
Three minutes later Morecambe were level however, when Alessandra capitalised on some poor defending and laid off the ball to Wildig who sliced his effort on goal but was glad to see the ball fall for perfectly for O’Sullivan to head past Collin from close range.
O’Sullivan came close to giving Morecambe the lead on 70 minutes when his shot seemed to be blocked by Wildig but the best chance came with six minutes left when Alessandra crossed from the right but Wildig could only head across goal and wide when well placed.
The Shrimps survived one late Carlisle penalty shout when Gethin Jones went down in the box but the referee waved play on to ensure the game stayed all square.
Morecambe: Halstead, Tanner, Sutton, Old, Conlan, Kenyon, Brewitt, O’Sullivan (Cranston 84), Wildig (Miller 90), Alessandra, Stockton (Leitch-Smith 67). Subs not used: Da Silva Mendes, Tutte, Ellison, Brownsword.
Carlisle United: Collin, G Jones, Hayden, Webster, Mellish, M Jones, Branthwaite, Scougall (Olomola 64), Hope, Loft (Sorensen 85), Thomas. Subs not used: Gray, Elliott, Carroll, Knight-Percival, Sagaf.
Referee: Darren Handley.
Attendance: 3,126.