Morecambe progressed in the FA Cup with a 2-0 home win over Southport in the second qualifying round. Paul Lewis and Isaac Buckley-Ricketts scored the goals that secured passage to the next stage.
It was a swift and satisfying response to a 2-1 defeat at Haig Avenue just 11 days prior. The victory also extends Morecambe's current winning run to two matches as they sit 10th in the National League - North table with 13 points.
A crowd of 2,047 at the Halo Aerospace Stadium saw a tight first half with few clear chances. The deadlock was broken ten minutes after the restart. Jake Cain's clever work created the opening for Paul Lewis, who finished from close range in the 55th minute.
Southport, who had former Everton loanee Douglass Lukjanciks in goal, pushed for an equaliser. Morecambe goalkeeper Myles Boney was named man of the match for a series of important saves to preserve the lead.
The points were sealed deep into added time. Substitute Isaac Buckley-Ricketts, who had come on for Teddy Collis, fired home in the 93rd minute to make it 2-0. Lewis was booked two minutes earlier for a foul.
This was the 71st competitive meeting between the clubs but their first ever in the FA Cup. Southport's last visit to Morecambe was a goalless draw at Christie Park back in January 2007.
With the cup tie handled, attention returns to the league. Morecambe's next fixture is a tough away trip to second-placed Oxford City on Saturday.
This story first appeared at Morecambe FC
