MORECAMBE conceded a 94th minute goal for the second home game in succession to drop a vital point against Stevenage.
After dragging themselves back into the game after a dismal first 45 minutes the Shrimps let it all slip as Luke Wilkinson headed home a Joel Byrom corner to snatch victory for the visitors.
The Shrimps made one change to the side that drew 0-0 at Exeter last week with Liam Mandeville coming in for Alex Kenyon but they were second best for the majority of the opening 45 minutes and it came as no surprise when they took a 25th minute lead as Steve Old half-cleared a cross and, in trying to claim the loose ball, could only trip Makasi and referee Graham Salisbury took his time before pointing to the spot with Kennedy sending Halstead the wrong way.
Stevenage could have doubled that lead just past the half-hour when they broke at speed from a Morecambe corner but Makasi headed wide.
The Shrimps’ attacking play, in contrast, was laboured as they struggled to create anything in the way of genuine chances.Andrew Tutte had a free-kick deflected behind and fired wildly off target from 25 yards and a brief flurry just before half-time saw Oates and Jordan Cranston shoot weakly at Paul Farman.
Eight uneventful minutes of the second half was all it took for new signing Richie Bennett to make his first appearance and he could have scored moments later.
Just after Cranston had almost shot out of the ground from 20 yards, his cross towards Ellison was diverted into Bennett’s path.
Seven yards out and one-on-one with the keeper, he could only blaze the ball over the bar.
Kevin Ellison curled an effort just off target before he dragged the Shrimps level with 20 minutes left, collecting Bennett’s lay-off to fire home to level the scores..
The excellent Ellison almost had a second four minutes later, cutting inside from the right, beating two men before seeing his shot comfortably held.
Morecambe thought they had a penalty when Zak Mills went to ground after Ellison’s shot was palmed out but the decision went against them.
Then, with time running out, a corner was headed in by Wilkinson to leave the Shrimps licking their wounds once again.
Morecambe: Halstead, Sutton, Lavelle, Old, Mills (McKay 90), Tutte, Cranston, Conlan, Mandeville (Bennett 53), Oates (Kenyon 85), Ellison. Subs not used: Szczepaniak, Brownsword, Hedley, Price.
Stevenage: Farman, Wildin, Nugent (Wilkinson 76), Cuthbert, Hunt, Kennedy (Reid 62), Timlin (Iontton 67), Byron, Makasi, Ball, Newton. Subs not used: Byrne, Sonupe, Henry, Smyth.
Referee: Graham Salisbury.
Attendance: 1,422.