View slideshow

Craig Stanley netted for the Shrimps after just four minutes but Simon Richman's headed equaliser on the stroke of half time earned a point for Vale.

Morecambe got the confidence boost they so desperately needed after Tuesday's dire display at Accrington with a goal in just the fourth minute.

Rene Howe burst past his marker on the left before cutting in and sliding the ball back for Craig Stanley who placed his side-footed shot past Joe Anyon for his second goal in three games.

On a bumpy pitch and in a swirling wind, Morecambe looked fired up for a battle and could have gone further ahead when Michael Twiss swung in a wicked corner that fell to Stewart Drummond but he failed to connect from five yards.

The home side were finding their men with ease and had much the better of the early exchanges.

Vale should have equalised after 20 minutes when Paul Edwards drifted a cross over the home defenders to find Kyle Perry who fluffed a header wide when totally unmarked and just five yards out.

Drummond again went close for the home side when he almost got on the end of a deep cross from Howe who had combined well with Twiss to make room again on the left.

Twiss was involved again when he held the ball up before playing it back to Fraser McLachlan who hit a cracking drive that Anyon had to parry over the bar.

From Twiss's in-swinging corner Jim Bentley rose to fire in a header which was scrambled off the line.

Then Port Vale had one of their rare first half attacks and used it force themselves level.

Scott Brown's corner dropped into the six yard box and Simon Richman was on hand to force a header past Barry Roche for a 42nd minute equaliser they had rarely looked like being capable of earning.

Vale boss, Dean Glover must have laid into his side at half time as they came out much more lively after the break.

They should have gone ahead when the ball bobbled over Adam Yates's foot in the area straight to Lewis Dodds who rattled the post with a shot.

Just seconds later, it looked like Morecambe had taken the lead when another bobble from a backpass saw the ball sneak past Anyon only to trickle a foot wide of the post.

Then Drummond curled a shot just wide from 25 yards.

Dodds had another opportunity when he drifted into the box to meet a pass from Perry but his shot lacked power and was an easy one for Roche to collect.

The game got increasingly scrappy as the blustery conditions took hold and Morecambe's best chances came via high balls from free kicks and corners into the box.

From one Stanley corner the ball fell to McLachlan who blazed it over from ten yards.

And from another Stanley cross, Drummond's header drifted over.

Twiss almost nicked it for the Shrimps when Yates's clever header found him in the box but his left foot volley was just over.

But the points were eventually shared and at least the home fans had seen a much-improved performance from their side.

Shrimps boss, Sammy McIlroy had named an unchanged side giving the players who won so well at Chesterfield last Saturday the chance to respond after their woeful display at Accrington on Tuesday.

Morecambe were as abysmal in the 1-0 Lancashire derby defeat as they had been inspired at Saltergate.

Michael Twiss was given another chance to show he could form an effective partnership with Rene Howe up front.

Morecambe: Roche, Yates, Artell, Bentley, Adams, McLachlan (O'Carroll 81), Drummond, Stanley, Wainwright, Twiss, Howe. Subs: Davies, Hunter, Taylor, Blinkhorn.

Booked: Drummond.

Port Vale: Anyon, Griffith, Howland (Taylor 70), Edwards, Dodds, Brown, Perry, Glover, Richman, Collins, Owen. Subs Martin, Prosser, Thompson, Lawrie.

Booked: Edwards.

Att: 1,823 (373 from Port Vale)