The Shrimps threw everything at their hosts but it was not to be and they were left to rue the missed chances from the home leg last Tuesday.

Craig Stanley almost broke the deadlock right at the end of normal time with a great run and cracking shot that Phil Barnes had to leap to parry clear.

Stanley had also come close in the first minute of the second half when Dave Artell nodded down a free-kick but the midfielder's cracking volley from more than 20 yards just drifted over.

Morecambe pressed hard for the goal and committed men forward. Gary Thompson was seeing a lot of the ball and the visitors put Grimsby under a degree of pressure.

Carl Baker had a chance after 68 minutes shooting through a crowd of players but Barnes kept an eye on the ball and got down quickly to save.

But it was all leaving gaps at the back and the home side looked dangerous on the break.

Scott Davies twice had to race off his line to deny substitute Peter Bore.

Sammy McIlroy threw Michael Twiss into the fray after 69 minutes, replacing Baker.

And the sub was in the thick of the action straight away clipping a first-time shot from 15 yards that just shaved the outside of the post.

Just moments later, Matty Blinkhorn turned on the penalty spot to fire a fierce volley inches over as Morecambe began to dominate play.

There was a double substitution for the Shrimps with eight minutes of normal time left, Stewart Drummond and Wayne Curtis coming on for Garry Hunter and Blinkhorn in a final throw of the dice.

If the Shrimps dominated after the break, the first half was more open with chances at both ends but it remained scoreless at the break.

Morecambe found themselves under the cosh right from the kick-off with the home side forcing a couple of early corners which resulted in shots on goal that Morecambe had to get bodies in the way to block.

But the visitors soon settled and, with the returning Neil Sorvel linking the midfield nicly, started to make a few openings of their own.

A long, 15th-minute boot upfield bounced over the midfield and found Thompson in the box but he soon came under pressure from two defenders and couldn't get a shot in.

Three minutes later, Adam Yates hit a decent 20-yard drive but Barnes collected comfortably.

At the other end, Davies had to be alert to collect at the feet of the onrushing Danny North who threatened to burst into the box.

Grimsby's dangerman from the first leg, Peter Till took advantage of a sloppy pass from Baker after 24 minutes to threaten the Morecambe goal but he hit his shot well over the bar.

With just a few minutes of the half remaining, Baker got on the end of another punt upfield from Davies but his weak shot was well saved by Barnes.

Manager McIlroy had sprung a surprise with his selection for the crunch Johnstone's Paint Trophy Northern Final second leg.

The Shrimps boss recalled Sorvel to the starting line-up, alongside Hunter and Stanley in midfield.

Artell was fit enough to partner Jim Bentley at the back but there was no place in the squad for Jon Newby.

Grimsby manager Alan Buckley recalled five players to the team who he had rested on Saturday, including goakeeper Barnes who was man of the match in last Tuesday's first leg.

Morecambe: Davies, Yates, Bentley, Artell, Adams, Thompson, Stanley, Sorvel, Hunter, Baker, Blinkhorn. Subs: Twiss, Curtis, Drummond, McStay, McIlhargey.

Grimsby: Barnes, Clarke, Newey, Hunt, Fenton, Till, Bolland, North, Boshell, Hegarty, Atkinson. Subs: Montgomery, Taylor, Jones, Bore, Bennett.

Att: 7,417 (246 from Morecambe)