Morecambe 2 Halifax Town 3 CONFIDENCE abounds among Morecambe players and fans ahead of the big kick off a week on Saturday at home to title favourites Rushden & Diamonds.

They've every right to be chipper - this Tuesday night match was only the second game the Shrimps have lost in ten pre-season friendlies.

Old Morecambe hitman Justin Jackson reminded his old club of what they were missing with two late second half goals that lost them the match.

Darren Lyons - an ex-Halifax player - scored first for the Shrimps after a good move on 34 minutes. Neil Morton cleverly knocked the ball through to Michael Knowles who hit a low cross. Lyons made no mistake at the far post.

The second Morecambe goal also followed a smart Shrimps move shortly afterwards. Dave Gardner took the ball forward and knocked it through to new signing Phil Eastwood on the edge of the box. Eastwood cleverly knocked it to Morton who drilled it past keeper Chris Adamson.

Morecambe looked to have it won until Jackson scored on 57 and 67 minutes. Five minutes after that Shrimps' defender Somerfield handled the ball in the area and Steve Gaughan scored from the spot.

This was a good run out for Morecambe who are looking good ahead of the big kick off.

Wigan Athletic 0

Morecambe 0

IT may have been a draw on the pitch but there was no doubting who won the fans' singing match on this historic occasion.

The Shrimps fans who went to check out the £30 million JJB Stadium in the first ever match at the stadium sang their hearts out.

In fact - if you closed your eyes and forgot what the Giant Axe looked like - you'd be forgiven for thinking that Morecambe were at home.

At the end Morecambe were applauded off by both sets of fans in the 3,500 crowd who enjoyed this historic occasion - such was the Shrimps effort. It was just a shame the occasion seemed to have overwhelmed Wigan.

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