Late winner a hammer blow to Morecambe’s survival hopes

Morecambe lost 1-0 for the 14th time this season as the Shrimps slipped seven points from League Two safety after a defeat at Port Vale.

Morecambe started brightly, with a Gwion Edwards effort bouncing narrowly wide, before Edwards found space again, but his pull back couldn’t quite find Callum Jones.

The home side did have the ball in the back of the net on 13 minutes, but play was pulled back after Jayden Stockley, who tapped home from inside the six-yard box, was in an offside position.

A few minutes later, David Tutonda upended Ryan Croasdale on the edge of the area, but Lorent Tolaj’s effort hit the wall.

Stockley had another effort on 34 minutes as Edwards was dispossessed midway inside the Shrimps' half, but his effort was collected easily by Harry Burgoyne.

In the second half, Morecambe enjoyed a good spell of pressure, and on the hour mark Callum Jones unleashed a good strike from distance that Ben Amos did well to tip round the post.

A few minutes later, a good move down the left saw an excellent cross from Tutonda headed powerfully towards goal, only to be met with a superb low block from Amos to keep the ball out.

Vale upped the tempo in the closing stages, and with ten minutes to go, following a scramble in then box, Croasdale saw a drive crash against the post.

Heartbreak for the Shrimps came less than two minutes from time, as Morecambe didn’t clear their lines on the edge of the area, and the ball fell to Ronan Curtis, who fired well into the bottom corner from 25 yards.

Port Vale: Amos, Clark (Richards, 66', Smith, 90+3'), Hall ©, Stockley, Curtis, Croasdale, Tolaj (Hackford, 90+3'), Sang, Debrah, John, Walters (Garrity, 65').

Subs not used: Broome, Smith, Umolu, Harper.

Goals: Curtis (89').

Bookings: Hall, Curtis.

Morecambe: Burgoyne, A Lewis (Songo'o, 62'), White, Stott ©, Edwards (Slew, 70'), Angol, Williams, Tollitt (Garner, 83'), Millen, Tutonda, Jones (Cooke, 83').

Subs not used: Hope, Dallas, Dackers.

Bookings: Tutonda, Williams, Angol.

Attendance: 7,038 (233 away).