THE Shrimps moved into the second round of the FA Cup with a professional performance to beat non league outfit Maldon and Tiptree.
Adam Phillips scored the only goal of the game from the penalty spot in the 42nd minute to see the Shrimps seal a rare second round slot.
The decisive moment came just before the break when home keeper Ben McNamara, who was outstanding throughout the afternoon, brought down Carlos Mendes Gomes in the box after the midfielder had latched onto a fine through ball and Phillips made no mistake from 12 yards.
It was Maldon and Tiptree, who play their football in the eighth tier, who had the first notable chance of the game as Shomari Barnwell got the wrong side of Sam Lavelle to have a clear run on goal but his shot was well blocked by Morecambe keeper Jake Turner.
From there the Shrimps controlled the game and created a number of good chances, only to be denied by home keeper McNamara on a number of occasions.
Phillips was the first to test the Australian with a shot from 20 yards that forced a low save before the keeper reacted superbly to race from his goal to deny Aaron Wildig an opening with a brave block.
The Shrimps continued on the front foot with Nathaniel Knight-Percival failing to provide a strong finish from a goalmouth scramble before McNamara saved superbly again from a close range Jordan Slew volley.
The second half saw Morecambe create the better chances with McNamara saving well from Knight-Percival and Phillips and they were unlucky to see a Mendes-Gomes effort wrongly ruled out for offside.
Both sides went for it at the death with Maldon pushing the Shrimps all the way with substitute Adam Vyse going desperately close to an equaliser with a shot from the edge of the box that flew inches wide.
But the Shrimps should have added a second before the end of the game when Cole Stockton was found free in the box but headed wide from close range to ensure a few nervous moments before the end of the game.
Maldon: McNamara, Butler, Cracknell, Stokes, Ryan-Khanye, Coombes, William-Bushell (rep Hasanally 64), McClenaghan (rep Stagg 84), Kai, Barnwell, Kemp (rep Vyse 75). Subs not used: Garrett-Douglas, Cornish, Noel-Mcleod, Conway,.
Morecambe: Turner, Mellor, Lavelle, Knight-Percival, Hendrie (rep Cooney 19), Wildig, Songo’o, Pringle (rep O’Sullivan 70), Mendes-Gomes, Phillips, Slew (rep Stockton 70). Subs not used: Halstead, Price, Diagouraga, Davis.
Ref: W Finnie.