Morecambe 0, Aldershot 2: Relegation trap door widens for Shrimps as Shots strike late
Morecambe hopes of avoiding relegation from the National League were dealt a huge blow as they suffered their third defeat in seven days.
The Shrimps went down 2-0 to an Aldershot side which had lost six games in a row with a result that leaves Jim Bentley's side eight points from safety with just five matches of the season to go.
They were once again undone by late goals as Kwame Thomas's 87th minute strike, followed by Ryan Hill's injury time penalty, took the faltering Shots seven points clear of the relegation spots.
Bentley made two changes to the side that lost against Hartlepool with goalkeeper Jamal Blackman pulling out after a late fitness test to be replaced by Myles Boney and Yann Songo'o returning in place of Daniel Ogwuru.
The Shrimps started brightly and went close to taking the lead in the fourth minute when Jack Nolan's right wing corner was headed against the crossbar by Ryan Hill.
From there the Shots looked the more threatening and hit the woodwork twice in quick succession through a Cameron Hargreaves shot and aChristy Grogan header after Boney had failed to claim a left wing cross.
At the other end Miguel Azeez was put through by Nolan after a swift counter but he shot weakly wide without testing Coniah Boyce-Clarke.
The second half was a much more open affair with chances at both ends. Gwion Edwards tested Boyce-Clarke for the first time with a shot from the edge of the box and Paul Lewis looked certain to score at the far post but for a superb last-gasp clearance from Ollie Scott.
At the other end Boney made decent stops from Charlie Warren and Scott and Ryan Hill dragged an effort wide late on when played in on goal.
The Shrimps' best chance fell to Ben Tollitt when he made space for a shot on 86 minutes but could only find the side netting with a poor effort and was made to pay moments later as Aldershot broke away and scored.
Brody Peart crossed from the right hand side and with Boney rooted to his line Thomas was able to slide in at the far post and give his side the lead.
The visitors doubled the advantage in injury time when Timmy Akindileni brought down Warren with a rash challenge and Hill converted the spot kick.
As the disgruntled Shrimps' fans left in their droves Liam Hogan was denied a consolation by a superb Boyce-Clarke but it was far too little far too late for a side that is destined to play in the National League North for the first time in 30 years.
Morecambe: Boney; Payne (Tollitt 84), Hogan, Dean, Akindileni, Edwards; Azeez, Songo'o (Sangare 74); Lewis (Thomas 74); Nolan, Popov (Ogwuru 73). Subs not used: Scales, Jameson, Fogarty.
Aldershot Town: Boyce-Clarke; Sheckleford (Tetek 89), Nightingale, Grogan, Scott; Warren, Hill, Henry (Widdrington 72), Hargreaves, Peart, Stewart (Thomas 84). Subs not used: Nash, Frost, Nelson, Penney.
Referee: G Rhodes.
Attendance: 2,950.