Set pieces prove costly as Morecambe fall to defeat at Eastleigh in National League

Morecambe remain in the National League relegation zone after a 2-1 defeat at Eastleigh.

The Shrimps named an unchanged starting line up from the side that beat Boston United 4-0 in midweek.

Click here to listen to reaction to the game from manager Ashvir Johal and winger Ben Tollitt:

Morecambe had the first chance of the game in the seventh minute, as Jack Nolan sent a 25 yard drive straight at goalkeeper Nick Townsend.

Minutes later, Ciaran McGuckin found himself beyond the Morecambe backline but he could only find the side netting.

The Shrimps were comfortably the better side in the first half but lacked a cutting edge in attack, with efforts from Joe Nuttall and Ludwig Francillette coming to nothing, whereas at the other end, Shrimps’ stopper Jamal Blackman had little to do.

Three minutes before half time, the Spitfires could have taken the lead, after Miguel Azeez was dispossessed on the edge of the area, but McGuckin’s effort was spectacularly cleared off the line by Maldini Kacurri.

After half time, Elijah Dixon-Bonner fired narrowly wide, before the hosts opened the scoring on 51 minutes.

Lewis Payne pulled down his man on the edge of the area, and Lloyd Humphries stepped up to smash the free kick straight into the top corner.

Jamal Blackman got down well to make the stop with his feet, before Eastleigh doubled their advantage 18 minutes from time.

Ludwig Francillette lost possession on half way, and McGuckin ran on before being bought down by the Shrimps defender, in the opinion of the referee just inside the area. McGuckin stepped up to send Blackman the wrong way from the spot.

Morecambe made attacking substitutions to attempt to get back into the game and did so in the 90^th minute, when Kacurri found George Thomas down the right, and his low cross was fired home by Ben Tollitt at the back post to half the deficit.

Then, in stoppage time, Francillette met Jake Cain's corner at the back post but his header was off target, before Tollitt fired over on the volley with the last kick of the game.

Morecambe FC: Blackman, Payne, Kacurri, Francillette, Edwards (Aarons 49'), Azeez, Cain, Williams (Sangare 82'), Nuttall (Muskwe 74'), Dixon-Bonner (Thomas 74'), Nolan (Tollitt 74').

Subs not used: Mair, Songo'o.

Goals: Tollitt 90'.

Bookings: Payne 50', Francillette 72', Kacurri 82', Sangare 86'.

Eastleigh: Townsend, Brindley (Davis 86'), Humphries, Eweka, Taylor, Mcguckin Evans (90+3'), Saunders, Lundstram, Skinner (Vokins 76'), Cousins, Harris.

Subs not used: McNamara, Pierre, Waruih, Stone.

Goals: Humphries 50', McGuckin 72'.

Bookings: None.

Attendance: 2553 (141 away)