THE Shrimps continued their good run of home form as hey picked up a point against Cambridge at the Globe Arena.
It’s just one defeat in eight at home now for Morecambe as the result lifted them above Stevenage at the foot of the table.
Shrimps’ boss Derek Adams had made two changes to the team beaten 4-1 at Northampton Town on Saturday with Christoffer Mafoumbi making his debut in goal ahead of Mark Halstead, while George Tanner’s departure meant a recall for Luke Conlan.
Morecambe began well with Cole Stockton dragging a shot inches wide after Jordan Slew had failed to connect with a loose ball in the area.
Steven Old looped a header over the bar and Luke Conlan fired a free-kick wide in a good start.
The game then saw both teams struggle to create chances and Mafoumbi had to save sharply from Jack Roles when finally called into action with a rare moment of goalmouth action.
The second half burst into life with the Shrimps taking the lead. Jordan Slew cut in from the left-hand side and saw his shot blocked only for the ball to end up with Phillips who hammered home his third goal in four games for the Shrimps.
After the goal, however, Cambridge hit back. They changed their formation and began to dominate.
Liam O’Neil drilled a shot wide from distance and Mafoumbi had to stay sharp to hold onto a long-range Roles free-kick that would have found the top corner.
Cambridge’s pressure paid off on 68 minutes when they levelled. Roles sent in a corner that found Harry Darling. His header was blocked but Harvey Knibbs reacted sharply to slam the loose ball home.
From there the Shrimps had the best chances to win it.
Carlos Mendes-Gomes broke and played in Stockton, who used his strength to run in on goal only to miss the target with his final shot.
A-Jay Leitch-Smith was then denied a superb late winner when he curled an effort that was heading for the top left-hand corner before Cambridge keeper Dimitar Mitov saved superbly.
Morecambe: Mafoumbi, Cooney, Lavelle, Old, Conlan, Kenyon (rep Wildig 73), Diagouraga, Phillips (rep Brewitt 79), Mendes-Gomes, Stockton, Slew (rep Leitch-Smith 85). Subs not used: Halstead, Sutton, Mbulu.
Cambridge United: Mitov, Knoyle, Taylor, Darling, Dunk (rep Jones 90), O’Neil (rep Hannant 86), Lewis, Maris, Roles (rep El Mizouni 86), Knibbs, Adeboyejo. Subs not used: Burton, Taft, Davies, Lambe.
Referee: Carl Boyeson.
Attendance: 2,019.