IT is a feeling that John Coleman and Accrington Stanley supporters have not had for decade — but now they have been reminded of what it is like to lose a league game to Morecambe.

After 17 meetings, 12 victories, five draws and 31 goals, Stanley’s remarkable run came to an end at the Globe Arena as Aaron Wildig provided the only strike of a strange game to give the Shrimps all three points.

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Questions about a hangover from the midweek penalty shootout with Hull were swiftly dispelled by a Stanley side showing just two changes dominating the opening ten minutes.

Without a goalkeeper of Barry Roche’s calibre the home team could have been behind in the second minute as the Irishman produced a top-class save to deny Josh Windass from range.

Piero Mingoia saw an effort deflected behind for a corner as Stanley turned the screw — but then disaster struck at the other end.

Morecambe’s first meaningful foray saw former Reds loanee Jamie Devitt find space down the right and clip the ball into the box for the advancing Wildig. The former Shrewsbury Town midfielder found the perfect finish to give Jim Bentley’s team the advantage completely against the run of play.

Normal service was swiftly resumed with Stanley dominating possession and crafting half-chances as Windass skidded a shot wide and Mingoia’s left-foot drive was held by Roche. Lightning then almost struck twice as Lee Molyneux laid the ball off to Alan Goodall and his shot beat Stanley keeper Jason Mooney but cannoned back off the goal-frame.

Stanley’s performance deserved parity but they were unable to ask any questions of Roche, with defender Tom Davies heading wide a Mingoia cross on the stroke of half-time.

The second period was more of the same, with Coleman’s side keeping possession and dominating territorially but unable to make something happen. And Accrington were without captain Terry Gornell who was replaced at the break following an injury suffered during a tackle by Ryan Edwards.

Roche made a routine save from Matty Pearson as Stanley pressed. But the more they committed the more open the game became and Mooney was forced to tip over another Wildig effort before making a mess of a Devitt corner that was ultimately cleared off the line.

Coleman threw caution to the wind and added attacking options. One replacement, debutant Adam Morgan, had only been on the pitch two minutes when Mingoia found him in the area but the former Liverpool youngster got his finish horribly wrong and scuffed wide.

Worse was to come as the Reds squandered a golden chance to level 16 minutes from time. Substitute Sean McConville’s right-wing cross was pushed out by Roche to the edge of the six-yard box and dropped straight to Windass. But the midfielder smashed the ball over the bar and into the Stanley supporters.

Desperate times called for desperate measures — but even route one would not do the job. Mooney kicked the length of the field for a free header for Billy Kee but the striker could not get the ball on target.

Five minutes of stoppage time brought Stanley pressure and Morecambe nerves. But the Shrimps clung on to take all three points against Accrington for the first time since September 2005.