The Shrimps take Championship side Rotherham United to penalties before exiting the Carabao Cup at the First Round stage.
A first senior career goal for Michael Mellon opened the scoring before Joshua Kayode responded eight minutes before the break.
With nothing to separate the two sides in the second half, it was the Millers who eventually came out winners following a penalty shoot-out.
The Shrimps nearly opened the scoring after just five minutes; Michael Mellon did well to intercept Sean Morrison and deliver into JJ McKiernan, but he failed to make a clean connection with the ball.
Midway through the second half, Michael Mellon fired Derek Adams’ men in front with his first senior career goal. An excellent through ball from Yann Songo’o was pounced upon by the Burnley loanee who shot across Dillon Phillips and into the back of the net.
Going in search for an instant response, Ollie Rathbone sent a pinpoint delivery into the mix for the home side where Joshua Kayode was lurking, but his header was straight at Stuart Moore.
Tom Bloxham looked to double the Shrimps’ advantage on 33 minutes with an effort from the inside left of Rotherham’s box, but his strike cannoned off the defender and back onto himself before going behind for a goal kick.
Four minutes later and the Millers were level. A cross from the left caused a scramble in the box and Kayode responded quickest, promptly sending the ball home.
The home side ended the first half strongly with a few half chances, but the Morecambe defence stood firm to ensure the score was level at the break.
Half-time: Rotherham United 1 Morecambe 1
An equally fast start to the second half for the Shrimps saw Eli King look to pick out Mellon with an excellent ball over the top, though Phillips read the cross to perfection and managed to beat our number nine to the ball.
Just after the hour mark and the home side thought they were ahead; Ollie Rathbone’s deep cross to the back post was met by the head of Georgie Kelly, but Moore got down terrifically to keep the scores level.
Moments later, Mellon let fly from distance, looking for his and Morecambe’s second of the evening, but the ball flew narrowly wide of Phillips’ right-hand post.
With 16 minutes of normal time left on the clock, United looked for a way through as Jamie McCart made up ground down the left and played in Fred Onyedinma, but the angle was against him, and the sub could only find the side-netting.
Ciaran McGuckin almost made an instant impact after coming on 78 minutes, he rose highest in the box to meet Tyler Blackett’s cross, but his free header sailed well over.
As the clock ticked over to 90, substitute Charlie Brown came agonisingly close to winning the tie in normal time with a back post header, but he couldn’t keep the ball down.
Despite a flurry of corners for the home side in added time, they failed to capitalise as a penalty shoot-out loomed.
Full-time: Rotherham United 1 Morecambe 1
The Shrimps stepped up first with JJ McKiernan making no mistake before Jordan Hugill responded in similar fashion.
Jacob Davenport scored next with Ollie Rathbone again converting for the hosts.
Dillon Phillips made two consecutive saves, denying Charlie Brown and Jake Taylor respectively, with Blackett and Onyedinma finding the net to send the Millers through to the Second Round.
Rotherham United win 4-2 on penalties.
Rotherham United: Phillips, Lembikisa (Blackett, 78’), Bramall (Bola, 78’), McCart, Wiles, Kelly, Rathbone, Kayode (Onyedinma, 62’), Odoffin, Morrison © (McGuckin, 78’), Humphreys.
Subs not used: Johansson, Hugill, Ayres.
Goals: Kayode (37’).
Bookings: Onyedinma.
Red cards: None.
Morecambe: Moore, Love ©, Bedeau, Rawson, Songo’o (Melbourne, 75’), Bloxham (Taylor, 75’), King (Davenport, 82’), Mellon (Brown, 75’), McKiernan, Senior, Slew (C Smith, 75’).
Subs not used: A Smith, Stokes, Rooney.
Goals: Mellon (22’).
Bookings: Moore.
Red cards: None.
Attendance: 2,834 (111 away).