The Shrimps again went 2-0 down and again produced a stirring fightback but this time it wasn't enough as they fell short at Edgeley Park.

After a great run of results, the Shrimps looked strangely off colour for much of the first half and failed to test Stockport keeper Conrad Logan despite a number of promising moves.

Garry Thompson and Carl Baker both went close with efforts from the edge of the area but for the third game running, the Shrimps conceded an early goal.

New on-loan Watford goalkeeper Scott Loach was forced to pick the ball out of the back of the net after just nine minutes.

Right-back Adam Yates slid on the greasy, bobbly surface which allowed Adam Griffin the chance to get in a left-wing cross which was bundled home by Anthony Elding at the near post.

Morecambe had an early chance to equalise when David Artell met Craig Stanley's free-kick but volleyed wide from six yards out when he should have done better.

The two sides then shared chances with Thompson slicing two efforts wide at one end and Liam Dickinson and Elding twice going close at the other before the home side doubled their lead before the break.

It was one of those sloppy goals Morecambe have conceded far too often this season as a left-wing free-kick was allowed to travel all the way across the Shrimps' box giving Dickinson a free header which he looped over Loach.

The Shrimps came out for the second half fighting and dominated the period but failed to provide clear-cut chances.

The changed their system for the second half and looked sharper but struggled to test the far from confident-looking Logan until the later stages.

The Stockport keeper easily gathered efforts from Baker and Thompson and Stanley was not too far away with a curler before the Shrimps pulled a goal back 10 minutes from time.

Matty Blinkhorn scored his third goal in four games when he headed home the loose ball from close range after Thompson's initial shot was blocked.

Logan almost conceded a freak own goal when he failed to make contact with Michael Raynes's back pass and the relief on his face was clear to see as the ball trickled the wrong side of the post.

Morecambe continued to pile on the pressure and were almost rewarded four minutes from time when Logan could only parry Baker's shot but Wayne Curtis blazed the rebound over when he looked sure to score.

Stockport: Logan, Taylor, Owen, Dicker, Elding (Poole 86), Griffin, Raynes, Pilkington (Proudlock 84), Tansey, Dickinson, Turnbull. Unused subs: Rose, Tunnicliffe, Tierney. Booking: Elding.

Morecambe: Loach 6, Yates 7, Artell 6, Bentley 7, Adams 7, Hunter 7, Stanley 7, Thompson 6, Twiss 6 (Curtis 68), Baker 7, Blinkhorn 7. Unused subs: Howard, Sorvel, Grand, Davies. Bookings: Yates, Adams, Stanley, Baker.

Referee: G Salisbury.
Attendance: 5,489.