Michael Twiss was the star of the show as Morecambe gained a second pre-season friendly draw against Football League opposition in a matter of days.

His ball retention, quick turns, flicks and passes to set up the best of Morecambe's attacks against League One Tranmere Rovers were at times a joy to watch.

And while the game was largely turgid and ended goal-less, it was a pity that fewer than 600 people turned out to watch the Twiss masterclass.

But that wasn't the only positive for the Shrimps - with Garry Thompson returning to something like the form that we saw two seasons ago down the right, Danny Carlton buzzing up front, the fit again Jimmy Kelly enforcing in midfield and Darran Kempson a colossus in defence.

This was a match that Morecambe could easily have won as they had all the best chances in the 90 minutes - the first a header turned just wide by Twiss following a corner in only the fourth minute.

Twice within the next 10 minutes Thompson found himself through one-on-one with Tranmere goalkeeper John Achterberg but was foiled on both occasions by brave diving blocks.

And though Rovers enjoyed the greater share of possession their only threat came from a series of free kicks won by burly forward Eugene Dadi.

The best two chances of the first half came in quick succession on 40 minutes - first Carlton turning well on the edge of the box to roll the ball in for Kelly to strike first time and bring a top class save out of Achterberg.

And then Carlton himself ran beyond the defence and rounded Achterberg but rolled the ball into the side netting from a tight angle.

Rovers changed their team completely at half time and the Birkenhead side's young guns started the second half looking like they had a point to prove.

With Shrimps under pressure, goalkeeper Ryan Robinson and centre back Carl Ruffer messed up one clearance and squared up to each other to settle the disagreement.

But it was only a brief interlude in Morecambe's domination as they resumed control despite a series of substitutions by boss Jim Harvey.

Lee Dodgson and Garry Hunter both put in super little cameo appearances to stake their claim to a place in Harvey's thoughts - but Michael Stringfellow could have had the biggest say as he leapt to meet a looping Thompson cross on 74 minutes. But he placed his header inches wide of the post from 10 yards out.

MORECAMBE: Robinson (Davies 86), Heard, Howard (Gray 80), Ruffer (Dodgson 56), Kempson, Blackburn, Kelly (Hunter 56), Stringfellow (Smith 80), Thompson (Lloyd 80), Twiss, Carlton