York City 4, Morecambe 2: Defensive errors prove costly for Shrimps
Morecambe remained in the National League relegation zone after a 4-2 defeat to in-form York City at the LNER Stadium.
The Shrimps, who ended the match with 10 men after Miguel Azeez was sent off in added time, led twice in the game but defensive errors proved costly once again as the league's top scorers took advantage of individual mistakes.
Boss Ashvir Singh Johal made three changes to the side that drew against Sutton with Admiral Muskwe and Rolando Aarons on the bench and the injured Ben Williams replaced by Arjan Raihky, Joe Nuttall and Mo Sangare.
After a tight early period York went close to opening the scoring on 20 minutes when Maldini Kacurri produced a superb goal line clearance to deny Ollie Pearce his 16th goal of the season.
A long ball over the to saw home keeper Harrison Male rush from his goal and rashly bring down Nuttall to give the Shrimps a penalty which Azeez tucked away neatly although questions remained as to why Male wasn't sent off for his tackle that led to a long stoppage and injuries to Nuttall and York defender Callum Howe.
York, who had scored four in their last three games stepped up the pace.. Pearce headed an Ollie Banks cross against the crossbar before Jamal Blackman produced a superb double save to keep his side ahead.
Bank was always York's main threat and he played a part in the home side's equaliser four minutes from the break when Banks crossed to the far post where the unmarked Malachi Fagan-Walcott put the ball into the empty net.
The Shrimps stunned the home crowd for a second time as they regained the lead four minutes after the break with a well worked goal. Sangare broke down the left and found Muskwe whose clever touch gave Ben Tollitt the chance to produce a fine finish.
The Shrimps continued to press with York defender Mark Kitching producing a vital intervention to stop Songo's cross reaching the unmarked Muskwe.
The good spell came to an end as the home side levelled on the hour when Banks was left free at the far post to convert Ollie Banks's dinked cross.
The decisive moment of the game came seven minutes later when York were gifted a third when Kacurri was caught out trying to play his way out of a tight situation instead of clearing his lines and Alex Hunt was left in space to convert Josh Stones's cross.
York should have been reduced to 10 men on 71 minutes when Hunt wiped out Jake Cain with a shocking tackle that only led to a yellow card but it was the Shrimps who were reduced to 10 when Azeez saw red for bringing down a York player who had a run on goal.
To make matters worse for the visitors the conceded a fourth six minutes into added time when right back Ryan Fallowfield produced a stunning far post volley to beat Blackman.
York City: Male, Kitching, Fagan-Walcott, Howe (Fallowfield 22), Hunt, Stones (Brookes 89), Pearce, Batty, Felix, Banks (Olley 63', Newby (Nathaniel-George 89). Subs not used: Hewitt, Sykes-Kenworthy, Kettlewell.
Morecambe FC: Blackman, Payne, Kacurri (Campbell 88), Songo'o, Sangare (Panayioutou 88), Azeez, Cain, Tollitt, Nuttall (Muskwe 24), Sutton (Nolan 67), Raikhy (Francillette 45). Subs not used: Mair, Aarons.
Booked: Tollitt 72. Sent off: Azeez.
Ref: S Copeland.
Att: 6,820.