TWO second half goals gave the Shrimps a confidence boosting win at Walsall.
On the Shrimps’ first ever trip to the Bescot Stadium they came away with the three points thanks to second half goals from Steven Old and Carlos Mendes Gomes.
While those two took the plaudits for the goals Christoffer Mafoumbi also played a massive part in the Shrimps’ win with a first half penalty save that proved vital.
Boss Derek Adams made two changes to the side that drew with Cambridge at the weekend as Jordan Cranston was recalled at left-back and Aaron Wildig came into the midfield.
Walsall started the game sharply and looked a threat on both flanks.
The first chance of the game fell to Mat Sadler who knocked the ball just wide of the post after meeting a corner with a half-volley.
Walsall soon had a chance to open the scoring in the 23rd minute when Wes McDonald won a penalty after being fouled by Mendes-Gomes.
The 22-year-old stepped up to take the kick but his effort was brilliantly saved by Christopher Mafoumbi.
Walsall’s early dominance was starting to fade in the 35th minute as the visitors began to see more of the ball. Adam Phillips volleyed wide from a cleared cross, shortly after.
Ryan Cooney then had a good chance but his shot on the edge of the box was straight at Liam Roberts.
Walsall responded with a Guthrie corner which was met with a powerful Gordon header, which was straight at the goalkeeper.
In an end-to-end game, Phillips again went close when his shot was fired just over the bar after a good passing move from the visitors.
In a frantic affair, neither side was able to fashion a proper chance up until the 65th minute. Morecambe had a half-chance when Phillips’ low cross evaded all of his team-mates, despite a handful of yellow shirts getting into good positions in the box.
But minutes later, the visitors struck first when Old met a Cranston corner and his header hit the post and fell over the line.
The Saddlers then enjoyed a greater share of possession with Cameron Pring galloping forward down the left and producing a wonderful cross for Caolan Lavery only for Sam Lavelle to produce a stunning goal-saving clearance.
Lavery went close again within minutes of the first chance with a header on the edge of the box, which was lashed just wide of the post - before the striker again met a header which this time sailed over the bar.
Morecambe then had a huge slice of luck in the 94th minute when centre-back Dan Scarr, who moved up front in the closing stages, saw a shot on the turn hit the post and rebound into Mafoumbi’s arms.
The Shrimps took full advantage of their fortune when they charged upfield and Mendes-Gomes twisted and turned in the box before curling a 96th minute curler past Roberts to seal the game.
Walsall: Roberts, Norman, Sadler, Scarr, Pring, Sharon, Guthrie (rep Holden 55), Gordon (rep Nolan 46), McDonald, Adebayo (rep Sinclair 55), Lavery. Subs not used: Rose,Kinsella, Roberts, Facey.
Morecambe: Mafoumbi, Cooney (rep Mbulu 52), Old, Lavelle, Cranston, Wildig, Phillips (rep Brewitt 81), Diagouraga, Slew (rep Leitch-Smith 63), Mendes-Gomes, Stockton. Subs not used: Halstead, Conlan, Kenyon.
Ref: R Joyce
Att: 3,554