THE extra large lady in the evening gown is warming up in the wings after Morecambe failed to pick up maximum points on the South Coast on Sunday.

She will be ready to warble at Christie Park this weekend whether it is win, lose or draw for The Shrimps.

For, after this result, Morecambe's already faint play-off hopes now rely on the unlikely statistic of both Exeter City and Barnet losing on the last day of the season.

It certainly wasn't lack of effort and application that could be blamed for the end of a run of four wins on the trot for Jim Harvey's troops at Margate.

The home side may have had nothing more than pride at stake but they fought the Shrimps every step of the way in their last home game of the season.

And though Morecambe started the brighter and more forceful of the two sides, Margate hit back well to just about earn their draw.

There was little hint of it in the early stages as Morecambe set the pace and saw top scorer Danny Carlton add to his growing reputation with an opportunist goal.

There seemed no danger as Stewart Drummond's free kick on 11 minutes was flighted into the Margate box.

But defender Billy Edwards and keeper Phil Smith couldn't decide who should have the ball first - allowing Carlton to steal between the two and slide it into the empty net.

The score was the signal for a period of sustained Morecambe pressure which never really created any clear openings on a muddy pitch where ball control was always difficult.

And eventually the home side regained their composure and began to mount a few threats of their own.

Craig Mawson was twice rescued by defenders as he spilled the greasy ball under pressure from attackers but then proved his worth with a reflex save to deny Jake Leberl from less than eight yards out.

Jean Michel Sigere hit the crossbar with another effort for the hosts and then, with half time beckoning, David Perkins cleared a Che Stadhart header off the line with Mawson stranded.

Shrimps were glad to get into the dressing room after the late examination by Margate but the respite did not last long - it took just nine minutes of the second period for the expected equaliser to arrive.

A corner swung in by set-piece specialist Adrian Clarke was met by the head of Jay Saunders to leave Mawson helpless as the ball arrowed into the top corner of his net.

Morecambe manager Jim Harvey responded almost immediately by upping his attacking options with Garry Thompson thrown into the fray in place of Terry McFlynn.

And it looked like the switch would pay dividends as Shrimps re-asserted their superioirity and the wingman began to lead a series of attacks.

Gary Hunter - still in search of his first senior goal - shot wide from the edge of the area from one run and then almost put Thompson through one-on-one with the keeper with a astute return pass which was only just spotted by defender Greg Oates.

Margate's Rocky Baptiste came closest of all when his 30-yard lob beat Mawson but came back off the crossbar .

But there was still time for one more shot on the turn from Thomspon which had Smith scrambling across his goal and, in stoppage time, a Wayne Curtis strike which went inches wide when a last ditch winner looked likely.

MORECAMBE: Mawson, Walmsley, Bentley, Murphy, Perkins, McFlynn (Thompson 60), Drummond, Osborne, Curtis, Hunter (Rogan 85), Carlton (Sugden (68)