MORECAMBE ended an epic and historic first Football League season in style, with a well-earned point at the League 2 champions.

The Shrimps produced a fine performance that saw them more than match Paul Ince's illustrious side and delighted boss Sammy McIlroy.

He said: "I thought we finished on a great note against a good side who are worthy champions.

"We were excellent, played some great football and could even have won the game.

"We matched them and had some great chances at the death to take the three points.

"But at the end of the day I am delighted to get a point to see us finish on 60 points, which is a great return for our first season.

"We said we wanted to make sure we were a Football League team at the end of the year and apart from a blip at the end of the season we have achieved that superbly.''

Far from spoiling the promotion party the Shrimps played their part in making it.

After giving the home side a guard of honour and with their fans in a flurry of fancy dress attire, there was a fine atmosphere helped by a fine, open game.

The Dons started brightly with Shwan Jalal, playing the final game of his loan spell from Peterborough, soon in action with a great save from Jemal Johnson.

But the Shrimps came back quickly as they enjoyed the space afforded to them. Carl Baker showed some silky skills to create himself a great opening on six minutes, only to see his goal of the season attempt spoiled by Willy Gueret's excellent save.

Garry Thompson, in what may have been his final Morecambe appearance, came close with a curler from the edge of the area.

Matty Blinkhorn then threatened to bear down on goal, but his first touch let him down.

But the Dons did not want their season to end on a flat note in front of a capacity crowd and they came back strongly.

Dean Lewington showed there was more to his game than kicking Henry McStay, with a delightful free-kick that curled inches wide, before McStay himself produced a superb tackle to deny former Stevenage man Craig Dobson.

The home side were given a lift when they opened the scoring five minutes from the break, when a fortunate deflection teed up Aaron Wilbraham, who stabbed the ball past Jalal.

Paul Ince's side upped the tempo at the start of the second period, with Jalal making an excellent save from Danny Swailes's close range header and also saving well from another Johnson effort.

But after surviving the pressure the Shrimps hit back, as Wayne Curtis and Michael Twiss came off the bench and gave Morecambe an extra spark.

Curtis was soon in the thick of the action and looked set to have a free run on goal before Luke Howell produced a fine covering tackle and his lob from another Garry Hunter through-ball beat Gueret but also beat the crossbar.

Gueret then produced two fine saves from Baker, who saw a shot and a header well blocked, before the Shrimps scored a deserved equaliser.
Craig Stanley played in Thompson down the right, his cross was headed back across goal by Curtis and Twiss headed home from close range.

It was now something of a free-for-all as both teams went for a winner.

Jalal saved smartly from Mark Wright and at the other end Curtis missed the target from close in after an excellent move, as the game ended with a flurry.

Morecambe: Jalal 8, McStay 7 (Yates 41), Artell 7, Bentley 7, Adams 7, McLachlan 7 (Twiss 59), Stanley 7, Hunter 7, Baker 8, Blinkhorn 7 (Curtis 65), Thompson 7.

Unused subs: Lloyd, Davies

Booked: Adams

MK Dons: Gueret, Stirling, Lewington, O'Hanlon, Dobson (Dyer 46), Wilbraham, Miles, Navarro, Howell, Johnson (Wright 75), Swailes (Andrews 57). Unused subs: Abbey, Hadfield.

Booked: Howell, Lewington, O'Hanlon.

Attendance: 17,215.

Referee: P Armstrong.