Altrincham 1 Morecambe 1: Shrimps pick up a point on the road

He saw his side take an early second-half lead through Jack Nolan’s free-kick, only for the home team to level with an Olly Crankshaw goal just before the hour.

Bentley made three changes to the side that lost against Solihull Moors with skipper Yann Songo’o returning alongside Ludwig Francillette and Ben Williams.

The Shrimps almost gave Bentley the best possible start as Chris Popov forced Luke Hutchinson into a smart save after just 19 seconds with a shot from 12 yards.

Altrincham hit back with Tom Crawford seeing a shot deflected just wide on four minutes before Jimmy Knowles wasted a great chance, heading straight at Jamal Blackman from close range.

The Morecambe keeper then produced a neat save to deny Knowles as he ran on goal and shot from a tight angle.

Morecambe came back into the game late in the half as Popov’s header from Nolan’s corner was smartly saved by Hutchinson.

However, the home side should have scored in injury time as Josh Grant headed over a corner.

Nolan gave the Shrimps the perfect start to the second half when he curled a free-kick over the wall and past Hutchinson.

Morecambe then lost their shape as Crankshaw scored on the counter, seconds after Paul Lewis had volleyed straight at Hutchinson from close range.

The game then swung from end to end with the Shrimps denied what looked to be a second goal.

Gwion Edwards’ shot squirmed through Hutchinson’s hands but was adjudged not to have crossed the line with the referee’s assistant woefully behind play.

There was more frustration in added time, when Popov was pulled back in the penalty area by Jack Cooper.

Referee Michael Barlow inexplicably waved play on as the Shrimps were denied the chance to seal the points at the death.

Altrincham: Hutchinson, Kosylo, Sassi, Grant (Cooper 64), Golden, Forde (Jones 64), Marriott, Knowles (Kirk 75), Crawford, Reddin, Crankshaw (Weaver 75). Subs not used: Fallon, Breckin, Olson.

Morecambe: Blackman, Payne, Dean, Francillette, Williams (McWilliams 71), Azeez, Lewis, Songo’o (Thomas 78), Nolan, Edwards (Tollitt 70), Popov. Subs not used: Boney, Fairclough, Nuttall, Akindileni.

Referee: Michael Barlow.

Attendance: 2,088.