THE big two in local football are heading for a make or break month of matches.

Morecambe and Lancaster City both harbour ambitions of stepping up to better things in the soccer pyramid - but have seen their hopes fade with poor results.

February could be crucial for both clubs - with one more slip-up perhaps spelling the end of the promotion push.

Shrimps boss Jim Harvey let the emotion of the moment show as he stepped out of character to lambast his side after a surprise defeat at Leigh RMI at the weekend.

Harvey, normally so supportive of his men, accused the Shrimps of lacking heart for the battle following a 3-1 reverse at Hilton Park - the home of the Conference's second bottom side.

"We were out-worked, out-fought and out-thought, It was a very poor performance," he said.

"We had a great chance of reaching the play-offs but it doesn't look like we are going to make it because the players have not got the heart for the fight away from home."

Morecambe are without a game this Saturday - having already gone out of the FA Trophy at Shrewsbury - but then face rock bottom Northwich Victoria at Christie Park on February 7 before travelling to struggling Farnborough Town a week later.

Anything less than maximum points is unthinkable if the play-off hopes are to remain alive because title-chasing Barnet ar the next visitors to the resort on February 21.

It's just as desperate at Lancaster City, where manager Phil Wilson's target for the season is a finish in the top 13 of the Unibond Premier Division - and a guaranteed place in the new Conference North to be launched next season.

City are currently 15th in the table but are in the middle of a sequence of four tough away games which could shape the rest of the campaign.

Having lost 3-0 at league leaders Hucknall Town and gone out of the President's Cup at the hands of Division One Workington, the Dolly Blues go to second placed Droylesden on Saturday and third placed Harrogate Town on February 7.