LAURENCE Wilson picked the perfect time to score his first goal for the Shrimps as his wonder strike earned a third successive League 2 woin.
Wilson, who came to the notice of many Morecambe fans when he scored a similar individual goal against the Shrimps last season for Chester, weaved his way past a string of Cheltenham challenges to fire the only goal of the game on 25 minutes.

It was a stunning effort from the summer signing who has been one of the Shrimps' most consistent performers this season. It was also a goal that delighted assistant boss Mark Lillis who said he had been encouraging the left wing back to produce such storming runs.

He said: "Laurence has had a few runs like that this year and we know what he can do. We have been encouraging him to do it a lot more because he has something a bit special. Runs like that do worry defenders and I am sure he could pick up more goals if he had the confidence to do it more."

It was an effort that shone through the gloom of another Christie Park game affected by the weather. The swirling wind and driving rain once again made good football almost impossible but it was the Shrimps who always looked the more threatening side and created the better chances.

The only time Cheltenham, who came into the game without a win in 10 matches, threatened was when veteran striker Barry Hayles and Julian Alsop came off the bench and threw their considerable builds about in an effort to disrupt a solid Morecambe defence. One Alsop challenge on Barry Roche came straight out of the 1950s when you could push a goalkeeper into the net and get away with it while a late hack from Joss Labadie on Morecambe midfielder Garry Hunter should have produced the quickest of red cards.

But the Shrimps seem to have more steel about them at the minute and the sight of bantamweight Andy Parrish squaring up to heavyweight Hayles was e that said a lot about the determination of Sammy McIlroy's side at the moment.

Morecambe, with the wind behind them, produced the better first half chances. Scott Brown was by far the busier keeper saving well from a long range Michael Twiss effort. Phil Jevons had a shot deflected wide after a last gasp challenge from Kyle Haynes before the same player produced an amazing miss when a year from goal he diverted a Twiss corner to safety when it looked a goal all the way.

The half ended with Brown saving sharply from long range efforts by Twiss and Craig Stanley before Cheltenham hit back in the second period.
The Robins quickly showed their intentions with new loan signing Ben Marshall firing over the bar moments after the restart and Morecambe defender Parrish making a superb goal line clearance from Justin Richards's cross come shot.

The Robins pressed to the death with Hayles forcing Barry Roche into a smart save but Morecambe saw the game out comfortably to continue their gradual climb up the League 2 table.

Morecambe: Roche 7; Artell 7, Haining 7, Parrish 7, Wilson 7; Stanley 7, Hunter 8, Craney 7 (rep Wainwright 60), Twiss 7, Mullin 7 (rep Curtis 90), Jevons 7. Subs not used: Davies, McStay, Moss, Duffy, Adams.

Booked: None

Cheltenham: Brown; Haynes, Gallinagh, Diallo, Low; Pook (rep Alsop 56), Bird, Labadie; Lewis (rep Hayles 56), Richards (rep Hutton 75), Marshall 6. Subs not used: Perry, Hammond, Watkins, Quaynor.

Booked: Labadie.

Star man: Garry Hunter - Another all action performance from a player who is becoming vital to the Shrimps.

Ref: S Bratt - An absolutely shocking performance.