The Shrimps moved into the fourth round of the FA Trophy with a confidence-boosting win against National League rivals Gateshead.

Goals from Jack Nolan, George Thomas and Miguel Azeez were enough to see the Shrimps progress into the last 32 of non-league’s top cup competition in a game played in front of just 363 people.

Boss Ashvir Singh Johal made five changes from the side that lost to Boston, with the main difference coming in goal as former Blackpool keeper Myles Boney, who signed a non-contract deal ahead of the game, came in for the injured Jamal Blackman and Archie Mair.

Other changes saw Alie Sesay and Raheem Conte return to the back four with Paul Lewis and Rolando Aarons handed rare starts.

Miguel Azeez celebrates scoring Morecambe’s third goal with Ben Tollitt and Alie Sesay (photo: Morecambe FC)

placeholder image — Miguel Azeez celebrates scoring Morecambe’s third goal with Ben Tollitt and Alie Sesay (photo: Morecambe FC)

The home side, who had lost their last five games and had joined the Shrimps in the bottom four of the National League, created the first opening of note when Kenton Richardson headed a Jacob Butterfield corner over from close range after escaping his marker.

Dom Telford then saw a shot well blocked by Ludwig Francillette before Morecambe went on to take charge.

Azeez drew a save from Preston Leech with a long-range effort before the Shrimps took the lead in the 33rd minute when Nolan created an opening for himself on the right-hand side of the box before firing a low left-foot shot past the wrong-footed Leech.

Morecambe doubled their lead minutes later when Ben Tollitt's left wing cross found Thomas in the box and the midfielder turned sharply after a great first touch and drilled the ball into the bottom corner of the Gateshead goal.

The game was over as a contest two minutes after the restart when Azeez swung in a left-wing corner which beat everyone and ended up in the back of the Gateshead goal.

From there Gateshead looked to fight their way back into the game but were denied on several occasions by Boney, with the keeper making smart saves from Kian Pennant and Josh Home, to mark his debut with a clean sheet in a professional win for the Shrimps.

Gateshead: Leech, Elliott-Wheeler, Richardson, Melbourne, Ferguson, John (Edwards 69), Butterfield (Home 69), Adom, Newton (Hurst 45), Telford (Nouble 60), Pennant. Subs (not used): Bakare, Williams, Bone.

Morecambe: Boney, Conte (Kacurri 62), Payne, Francillette, Sesay, Azeez (Dixon-Bonner 70), Lewis (Campbell 77), Thomas, Nolan (Sutton 83), Aarons, Tollitt (Vilchez 87). Subs (not used): Scales, Panayiotou.

Attendance: 363

Referee: D Watson.