MORECAMBE crashed to their tenth Nationwide Conference defeat of the season as fierce local rivals Accrington Stanley planted one foot firmly into the Football League.

Morecambe could not recover from the hammer blow of shipping two goals in two shocking first half minutes and it was only in the final 10 minutes of the game that the Shrimps ever looked like salvaging something from the Crown Ground. That was after Michael Twiss had been introduced to the action.

Twiss, on the bench for the second game in a row, suddenly gave the Shrimps life but by that stage a side as well organised as Stanley were never going to cave in.

Even when Morecambe started brightly, it seemed that Stanley's rough and tough defence had the measure, with Stuart Barlow ploug-hing a lone furrow up front but barely getting a sniff.

But during that cagey start, Morecambe had the best chance to take the lead on 19 minutes when skipper Jim Bentley powered a header from Garry Thompson's free kick over the top from six yards.

That miss proved costly five minutes later when Ged Brannan gave the ball away in the centre of the park.

To be fair there appeared to be little danger as Andy Todd, on loan from Burton Albion, picked up the ball and advanced towards the penalty area. But when he pulled the trigger from 25 yards, Steven Drench never stood a chance as the ball whistled into the bottom corner of the net.

That was a blow for the Shrimps and two minutes later their agony became almost unbearable thanks to an appalling defensive mix-up.

A hopeful ball hoisted towards the penalty area should have caused no problems for either the retreating Darran Kempson or the advancing Drench. But the youthful duo had obviously never heard the old advertising mantra that it is good to talk as they colluded in one of the cock-ups of the season.

Drench called for the ball and Kempson headed it back at an awkward angle. The keeper couldn't hold it and Paul Mullin nipped in.

It looked like a let off for Morecambe with Mullin appearing to have too much to do but he classily rolled into the far corner from the tightest of angles to make the game effectively safe.

Ian Craney whizzed a shot wide shortly afterwards as Accrington milked their moment and Morecambe struggled to get back.

That was no slight on David Perkins, who was tenacious in midfield and worked hard.

The second half followed a similar pattern to the first as Morecambe had their moments but Accrington bossed proceedings and Gary Roberts went close with a weighty shot.

The introduction of Danny Carlton for the tiring Jimmy Kelly on 59 minutes and then the eagerly awaited appearance of Twiss with just 11 minutes to go sparked life into the play.

With his first touch Twiss chested the ball down and hit a stunning 20-yard shot, which Rob Elliot turned for a corner.

And suddenly the Accrington back line was stretched but with minutes to go it was too little too late and Stanley surged 16 points clear of the chasing pack.

Morecambe: Drench 6, Blackburn 6, Kempson 6, Bentley 7, Hardiker 6, Thompson 7, Brannan 7, Perkins 7, Kelly 6 (Carlton 59, 7), Curtis 6 (Twiss 79), Barlow 6.Subs (not used): Davies, Lloyd, Walmsley.Att: 3,041

Ref: M Haywood (West Yorkshire)