Morecambe 1, Rochdale 2: Shrimps sunk by league leaders
Morecambe suffered their first defeat in three games as Harvey Gilmour's superb late strike robbed the Shrimps of a point against league leaders Rochdale.
The Shrimps looked set to earn a share of the spoils in a controversial Boxing Day encounter that saw Shrimps' assistant Lee Tomlin sent off after Jack Nolan had levelled from Ian Henderson's late first-half strike but Gilmour spoiled the festivities with a fine strike to beat the excellent Jamal Blackman from the edge of the box.
Morecambe boss Ashvir SIngh Johal made two changes from the side that beat Brackley with full backs Lewis Payne and Raheem Conte making way for Ludwig Francillette and Emmerson Sutton.
The Shrimps started well with Jack Nolan and George Thomas testing Nathan Broome before the visitors showed their attacking strength with Ian Henderson's flying header forcing Jamal Blackman into a good save.
Blackman came to the fore again in the 39th minute with two penalty saves. After parrying away Connor McBride's initial effort the assistant referee deemed him to be off the line but the Shrimps' keeper was the hero again as he then saved Joe Pritchard's second effort.
Unfortunately for Blackman he was beaten by Henderson just before the break when the veteran, who looked offside when he received the ball, took full advantage of Alie Sesay and Francillette's hesitation to lob the Morecambe stopper from 35 yards out.
It was that decision that saw Tomlin receive a red card at the break before the Shrimps hit back with an equaliser three minutes into the second period when Nolan's free kick from the right hand side beat everyone in the box to end up in the back of the net off the foot of the post.
From there both sides traded the momentum with Francillette's looping header tipped over by Broome at one end and Blackman saving superbly from Tyler Smith's near post effort and Charlie Waller's close range header at the other.
With the game finely poised it was the visitors who had the final say when Gilmour received the ball from Jake Burger and curled an unstoppable effort into the top left hand corner.
Morecambe tried to force a second equaliser with Ben Tollitt curling an effort inches wide and Nolan going close again but Rochdale hung on for the win.
Morecambe: Blackman, Sesay (Sangare 74), Kacurri, Francillette; Azeez, Thomas (Dixon-Bonner 89), Sutton, Raikhy (Lewis 63); Nolan, Aarons (Muskwe 74),Tollitt. Subs not used: Mair, Payne, Conte.
Booked: Francillette, Lewis.
Rochdale: Broome; Gordon, Ebanks-Landell, Galvin (Moss 84); Adebayo-Rowling, East (Petit 84), Gilmour, Pritchard (Burger 45), Waller; McBride (Rodney 71), Henderson (Smith 63). Subs not used: Tutonda, Gomez-Mancini. Booked: Pritchard, Ebanks-Landell.
Referee: Aaron Jackson
Att: 4,266.