Morecambe’s new season started with a point at home against Spennymoor Town.

Morecambe began their National League North campaign with Saturday’s draw against Spennymoor Town at the Halo Aerospace Stadium, writes DEREK QUINN.

Playing their first game at this level of football for 30 years after three relegations in four years, Adam Lakeland’s side suffered an early blow as former Morecambe striker Richie Bennett fired the visitors into a ninth-minute lead.

However, a much better second-half display saw them earn a share of the spoils through Matty Daly’s penalty just after the break.

The Shrimps’ starting line-up featured just three players from last season with Jake Cain, who returned to the club on Friday evening, on the bench.

Another new face, Ruben Curley, started the game in midfield with Lewis Leigh - one of the stars of pre-season - picking up an injury in training on Thursday.

The Shrimps’ plans were not helped as the visitors took the lead with the game’s first attempt.

A Morecambe clearance fell to Bennett on the edge of the box and the striker’s fierce volley was deflected into his own net by Lewis Baines.

Spennymoor had chances to add to their lead with Junior Mondal inches away from sliding home Robert Ramshaw’s low cross and Bennett failing to get a decisive touch from a Mondal cross.

After a poor first period, Lakeland’s side started the second half much sharper, with Cameron Coxe forcing Zac Hadi into a smart save low to his right before they levelled through the penalty spot.

Isaac Buckley-Ricketts showed some neat skill in the box before being upended by Frankie Whelan, which gave Daly the chance to slot home the spot-kick.

The goal gave the Shrimps a clear lift as they created a string of opportunities.

Buckley-Ricketts headed over from close range and then provided Baines with an opening at the far post, which the defender couldn’t get on the end of.

Hadi saved smartly from Buckley-Ricketts and Elliot Newby as the Shrimps pushed forward.

The best chance of a winner, however, came for the visitors who missed a glorious chance to take three points in a rare second-half attack.

Dan Jones missed the target with a free header six yards out, ensuring both teams shared the spoils.

Morecambe: Young, Hogan, Smith, Baines, Coxe, Williams (Garner 82), Curley, Lewis, Daly, Newby, Buckley-Ricketts (Blois 90). Subs not used: Boney, Collis, Cain, Fairclough.

Spennymoor Town: Hadi, Darcy, Whelan, Pollock, Jones, Cantrill (Beals 90), Salkeld, Mondal (Young 72), Jenkins, Ramshaw, Bennett. Subs not used: James, Dawson, Miller, Dolan, Raine.

Referee: Oliver Noonan.

Attendance: 2,579.