A WAYNE Curtis hat trick propelled Morecambe to their third win on the spin on Saturday - and gave them the perfect preparation for Tues-day's FA Marsden Trophy final second leg.

The born again striker, making his third start since returning from a three month loan spell at Unibond side Barrow, took full advantage of his second Christie Park life with a superb treble.

He had an early effort saved by Forest green keeper Steve Perrin but was not to be denied on 20 minutes - controlling the ball on his chest midway through the opponents' half before driving forward and placing his shot beyond Perrin.

It was just the tonic that Shrimps needed as they set up a constant flow of attacks on the Forest Green goal, threatening to score almost at will.

Ryan Sugden could have scored a couple of times before he finally got his name on the scoresheet on 35 minutes - beating defender Jon Richardson to the ball and slamming it past Perrin from an acute angle at the near post.

Forest Green registered their only effort on target at the start of the second half as Alex Sykes pounced on a mistake by Keiran Walmsley to get in a shot. But Craig Mawson got down smartly to make the save at the foot of a post.

Half time substitute Garry Thompson - being eased back into the game after injury - could have made it 3-0 on the hour as Terry McFlynn, who had just replaced Sugden, set him free down the right. But his shot from 20 yards hit the bar and cannoned away to safety.

Garry Hunter also came close to opening his account as Thompson played the ball through but his shot lacked conviction and was easily saved by Perrin.

It was left to Curtis to complete the rout with a brace of goals in the final 12 minutes.

The first was a simple tap-in from three yards after Danny Carlton created space inside the penalty area and rolled the ball across the face of goal to the unmarked number nine.

And in the final minute he completed his treble as he cut in from the left flank and beat Sekani Simpson before placing his shot past Steve Perrin from 12 yards.

Morecambe: Mawson, McKearney (Thompson 45), Murphy, Swan, Perkins, Walmsley, Drummond, Osborne (Carlton 71), Curtis, Hunter, Sugden (McFlynn 59).