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In the end Lincoln could have even snatched all three points - but it would have been cruel on the home side.

Skipper, Jim Bentley had given Morecambe a slender but deserved half-time lead, powering home an 18th-minute header from one of a series of Craig Stanley free-kicks.

Lincoln had two chances within a minute around the half hour mark but otherwise failed to trouble the home defence as Morecambe dominated the play before the interval.

Michael Twiss held off two men in the second minute befoe squeezing a pass out to Neil Wainwright. But Matty Blinkhorn couldn't turn the left winger's dangerous low cross onto the target and the ball went out for a goal kick.

Blinkhorn collapsed to the ground with what looked like a knee injury.
And while he was getting attention, Stanley curled in a 30-yard free-kick which was met by the head of skipper Bentley who beat Robert Burch from six yards.

Stanley almost initiated a second just a minute later but this time Burch sprung brilliantly to his left to flick the ball away from Artell's header.

Wainwright was causing problems again on the flanks for Morecambe and when he crossed again from the left Burch had to be alert to collect Twiss's firm header.

After 24 minutes Stanley found Wainwright with a neat first-time pass and this time the winger cut inside and curled a shot just a foot wide.

On the half hour, Lincoln should have equalised when Aaron Brown's free-kick evaded all the Morecambe defenders to drop on Janos Kovacs' head but the central defender put it wide from just three yards out.

A minute later, Anthony Elding beat the offside trap to put himself clear on goal but Barry Roche got down well to block the shot with his legs.

Morecambe should have increased their lead after 36 minutes when Burch dropped Stanley's free-kick. It dropped to Stewart Drummond who laid it back to Bentley five yards out but the defender had lost his footing and received the ball as he was lying on the ground, only managing to scoop a shot into Burch's grateful arms.

Shortly after the break, Twiss looked to be well offside from Wainwright's through-ball but the flag stayed down and it took a saving tackle from Moses Swaibu to prevent him making it two goals in successive games.

As Morecambe continued to pile on the pressure, McLachlan hit one wide from the edge of the box and Blinkhorn stung Burch's hands with a swift turn and shot.

Another great pass from Wainwright found McLachlan on the run into the box but his shot was deflected for a corner.

It was looking good for Morecambe who launched attack after attack without too much coming the other way.

But a one-goal lead is always precarious.

And that was nearly demonstrated when Danny N'Guessan outpaced Dave Artell to cut in and shoot but Roche was again down well to save.

Stanley limped off after a heavy challenge to be replaced by Gary Hunter with 20 minutes left.

When Drummond was caught in possession after 77 minutes the ball was played to N'Guessan who hit it across goal and just out of reach of the sub, Patulea.

Lincoln pushed men forward looking for the equaliser and finally punished Morecambe for not sealing the game earlier, full-back Paul Green hitting a super low shot from the edge of the box to beat Roche to make it 1-1.

And it could have been worse just a couple of minutes later when N'Guessan's shot skidded onto the foot of the post.

Substitute, Wayne Curtis, hit a screamer that skimmed the crossbar late on but in the end, Morecambe had to settle for the point.

It was harsh on Morecambe after all their good work but they can take comfort from another solid all-round performance.

Matty Blinkhorn came in for the injured and suspended Rene Howe up front to renew a partnership with Michael Twiss who hit his first goal of the season in the win against Brentford last week.

Wayne Curtis came back from his loan spell at Barrow to take a place on the bench.

Tuesday night's game was a rearranged fixture, the original January 3 one being frozen off.

Morecambe: Roche, Yates, Artell Bentley, Adams, Wainwright, Drummond, Stanley (Hunter 70), McLachlan (Curtis 75), Twiss, Blinkhorn. Subs: Davies, Taylor, O'Carroll.

Lincoln City: Burch, Green, Brown, Kovacs, Oakes, Elding, Kerr, N'Guessan, John-Lewis (Mullarkey), Clarke (Patulea 64), Swaibu. Subs: Duffy, Sinclair, Warlow. Booked: Green.
Att: 1,471 (113 from Lincoln)