The Shrimps brushed Barrow AFC aside by three goals to one in the EFL Trophy.
Charlie Brown opened the scoring on 38 minutes before youngster Cameron Rooney doubled the advantage 13 minutes into the second half.
Ben Whitfield pulled one back for the Bluebirds on 68 minutes before Cammy Smith won it just five minutes later.
Neither side were able to carve out any clear-cut chances in the opening 15 minutes, though the Shrimps came close after Ethan Walker’s through ball looked to play Brown in one on one, but the linesman’s flag flew up for offside.
Some neat one-two play between Smith and Brown saw the latter break through into the box, though he lost his footing before the goalkeeper smothered the danger.
With half of the first half gone, it was the home side who again came close to an opener, this time Walker sent the ball into the box from the right toward Brown, though there was too much elevation on the cross.
Minutes later and the partnership of Brown and Walker continued to threaten. This time, Brown looked to pick out Walker with a low cross from the left, but a Barrow defender just about got his toe to the ball first before clearing his lines.
Just before the half-hour mark, Brown looked to test Josh Lillis’ resolve from distance, but the strike had too much lift on it and sailed well over the bar.
Seven minutes before the break, the deadlock was broken through Brown. Youngster Cameron Rooney did excellently to thread the ball into our number 20 who calmly slotted the ball beyond Lillis to open his account for the Club.
Our lead was nearly doubled five minutes later as Smith forced Lillis into a smart save with his feet at close range.
The Shrimps finished the first half strongly and again went close with a blistering counter-attack. Rooney flicked the ball over an opposition’s head and advanced forward before playing in Jacob Davenport who fired straight at Lillis.
Half-time: Morecambe 1 Barrow AFC 0
The visitors had a big chance to level proceedings early in the second half after winning a free kick in a promising position, though Telford’s effort flew well over Adam Smith’s bar.
Just before the hour mark, our lead was doubled through Rooney. A ball was whipped into a dangerous area, and after a brief moment of carnage, the youngster reacted quickest to poke the ball home.
The visitors pulled one back with just over 20 minutes of normal time to play after Whitfield’s corner looked to curl straight in.
Within a flash, the Bluebirds came close to levelling proceedings through David Worrall’s back post header, though he could only find the side netting.
Barrow’s crucial miss was punished seconds later at the other end by Cammy Smith. The ball came in couresty of Walker and a scrambling defender tried to clear it, but he could only put it on a plate for Smith who rifled the ball home.
Smith came close to his second of the night and Morecambe’s fourth in the final minute of normal time. Substitute Jordan Slew did excellently to keep the ball amongst opposition pressure, he teed up Smith whose resulting effort was straight at Lillis.
Full-time: Morecambe 3 Barrow AFC 1
Morecambe: A Smith, Rawson ©, Songo’o (Love, 70’), Stokes, Davenport, C Smith, Walker (Bloxham, 79’), Brown (Mayor, 79’), Connolly (Senior, 70’), Melbourne, Rooney (Slew, 79’).
Subs not used: Moore, Tutonda.
Goals: Brown (38’), Rooney (58’), Smith (73’).
Bookings: Brown, Rawson.
Red cards: None.
Barrow AFC: Lillis, Ogungbo, Worrall © (Bray, 82’), Spence (Stephenson, 61’), White, Telford, Feely, Tiensia, Whitfield, Reeve (Canavan, 62’), Bellis (Duffus, 61’).
Subs not used: Farman, Etaluku.
Goals: Whitfield (68’).
Bookings: Spence, Duffus.
Red cards: None.
Attendance: 1,203 (335).