Morecambe stun National League leaders to stay in fight to avoid relegation

Morecambe cut the gap to survival in the National League to six points with four games to play after a stunning 4-2 victory at top of the table Rochdale on Good Friday.

The Shrimps made just one change to their starting line up, with Kyle Jameson preferred to Timi Akindileni in defence, while Myles Boney continued to deputise in goal for the injured Jamal Blackman.

Click here to watch the full post match reaction of manager, Jim Bentley.

Here’s @MorecambeFC manager Jim Bentley’s full reaction after the Shrimps shocked the National League leaders Rochdale with a 4-2 victory to stay in the battle to avoid relegation.#UTS 🦐 | #ROCvMOR | #ShrimpsLive | https://t.co/gTf2Oz39zj pic.twitter.com/8lNKxNynTH

— Dave Salmon (@dpsalmon) April 3, 2026

Dale had the better of the opening exchanges and took the lead in the 19^th minute. Aidan Barlow’s chipped ball to the back post from the edge of the area caught Boney in two minds, and the ball sailed over him and into the back of the net.

The hosts had a great chance to double their lead minutes later, but Boney mad a fine low stop, before the Shrimps rallied and equalised 12 minutes later. Superb work down the right from Jack Nolan saw a low ball in from the right swept home by Lewis Payne at the near post.

In the 65th minute, it was the Shrimps who took the lead, as Gwion Edwards did well to beat his man down the line and his deep cross was smashed home by Lewis Payne at the back post.

It then got even better, as Morecambe doubled their lead a few minutes later. Edwards again found space down the left and his cross was met with a diving header by Nolan.

With 13 minutes to play, Rochdale found a second as veteran Ian Henderson’s curling effort that found the top corner.

But despite some intense pressure from the hosts, the Shrimps defence held firm, and deep in stoppage time the points were sealed, as Jack Nolan broke on the counter, and his pass found substitute Ben Tollitt, who slipped the ball past Oli Whatmuff and in off the post.

Morecambe welcome third placed Carlisle United to the Mazuma Mobile Stadium on Easter Monday.