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The substitute's neat 72nd -inute strike kept play-off hopes just about alive.

Neither side could find an opener in a first half devoid of flowing football and with goal chances at a premium.

Morecambe, as they did against Bradford, started a little shakily and the visitors almost took the lead from a corner in the fifth minute, Barry Roche blocking a header from John Thompson with his right foot.

But Rene Howe stated to get on the ball more as the mid-way point of the half approached and caused danger with a cross that was cleared for a corner with Diarmuid O'Carroll waiting to pounce.

And Howe himself fizzed a shot just over from the corner of the penalty area after 21 minutes.

But Notts were working harder off the ball then the home side and continued to dominate possession.

They should have taken the lead when Myles Weston picked up the ball on the edge of the box but spooned his shot way over the bar.

That seemed to prompt a bit of a response from Morecambe and Howe had a couple of good efforts well saved as he continued to present The Shrimps' only real threat.

The first chance of the second half fell to Delroy Facey whose snap shot was parried away by Roche.

That effort was cleared upfield and Gary Hunter played a one-two with substitute Mark Duffy before finding Michael Twiss with a superb through ball to beat the offside trap. But Twiss, who was having a nightmare, fluffed the opportunity with only the keeper to beat.

Twiss was substituted soon after that gaffe, young Aaron Taylor coming off the bench as Sammy McIlroy threw men forward looking for the three points.

Taylor immediately got into the action, slipping a pass wide to Hunter whose intuitive chipped shot had Pilkington stretching to tip over.

From the corner Duffy's goalbound shot was deflected wide for another. As Morecambe enjoyed a good spell of pressure, Taylor headed that corner inches wide.

But they weren't to be denied for long and when O'Carroll flicked a clever ball back over his own head Duffy nipped in to control it before clipping it into the net for his first Morecambe goal after 72 minutes.

Stewart Drummond had a chance to add to his goal tally but couldn't keep his 20 yard shot down and it flew over.

At the other end Roche again had to be sharp to block a low shot from Matt Hamshaw.

And Roche was called on to tip over a header from Richard Butcher and push a Jamie Clapham shot wide as Notts pushed for the equaliser.

Shrimps fans' hearts were in their mouths in the 87th minute when Jonathan Forte hit a 25-yard shot on the turn that had Roche beaten but nestled just on the top of the net.

But they couldn't claw it back and Duffy's winner keeps Morecambe's play-off hopes alive.

The winger even had the ball in the net again with Pilkington out of his goal but the ref's whistle went as his long-range shot was on its way.

Wayne Curtis was ruled out with a hamstring injury but Neil Wainwright was passed for to play. Michael Twiss dropped to midfield with Diarmuid O'Carroll partnering Howe up front.

Morecambe: Roche, Yates, Bentley, Artell, Adams, Wainwright (Duffy 45); Hunter, Drummond, Twiss (Taylor 65), Howe, O'Carroll (McLachlan 82). Unused subs: Edge, McStay. Booked: Adams, Twiss.

Notts County: Pilkington, Picken, Edwards, Forte, Weston, Strachan (Hamshaw 73), Clapham, Hunt, Thompson, Facey, Butcher. Subs: Forrester, Tann, Fairclough, Nowland. Booked: Thompson.

Att: 2,161 (228 from Notts)