Woking 5, Morecambe 1: Shrimps relegation confirmed after Woking hand out drubbing

Jim Bentley's side needed three points from the game to keep any hopes of maintaining their National League status but a string of late goals from the home side ensured that Morecambe will be playing regional football for the first time since 1995 next season.

On a day to forget Bentley made once change to the side that drew with Carlisle as Jamal Blackman came back from injury but the giant stopper was soon picking the ball out of the net as the Shrimps gave away a soft opener on 12 minutes when Liam Hogan headed a right wing cross into the path of Harry Beautyman who scored with a perfectly placed effort from just inside the area.

The Shrimps should have gone two goals down two minutes later when Kian Pennant drove into the box unchallenged but dragged his shot wide with only Blackman to beat.

After a slow start Morecambe started to threaten with Gwion Edwards forcing Will Jaaskelainen into an uncomfortable looking save and Jack Nolan seeing an effort hit the crossbar and bounce to safety.

But just as the Shrimps looked likely to reduce the deficit they conceded another shocking goal on 37 minutes as Aaron Drewe's curling corner was missed by Blackman and ended up in the back of the net.

To their credit Morecambe came back again and Nolan pulled one back on 41 minutes when his right wing cross evaded everyone and found its way in the back of the Woking goal to give the Shrimps some hope.

With the wind behind them for the second half and everything to play for Morecambe began the half on top. A superb Nolan free kick was inches away from being met by the diving Liam Hogan and Jaaskelainen made another unconventional save to parry a stinging Nolan drive away.

On 68 minutes Edwards was unfortunate to hit the underside of the crossbar and see the ball drop the wrong side of the line as Morecambe pushed forward.

But as the Shrimps chased the game they were undone on the counter with a goal that changed everything.

Top scorer Olly Sanderson put the game to bed in the 77th minute as he picked up the ball in midfield, rounded Lewis Payne and slotted home from the edge of the box.

Two injury time goals then rubbed salt into the Shrimps' gaping wounds.

Sam Ashford made it four on 90 minutes with a shot that beat Blackman low to his right from the edge of the area and Sanderson’ scored three minutes into added time with a shot on the turn in the six yard box.

The late capitulation confirmed the Shrimps' relegation and much thinking to do about the future of a club that was playing in League One just four years ago.

Woking: Jaaskelainen, Drewe, Richards, Okoli, Beautyman (Taylor 82), Ward (Ashford 82), Akinola, S. Turner (Andrews 74), Forster-Caskey (Gorman 74), Pennant (Gbode 64), Sanderson. Subs unused: Ross, Timmy.

Booked: Akinola, Drewe, Ward.

Morecambe: Blackman, Payne, Hogan, Dean, Jameson (Tollitt 75), Edwards, Azeez, Songo'o (Sangare 75), Lewis, Popov (Ogwuru 85), Nolan. Subs unused: Boney, Conte,Thomas, Akindileni.

Ref: K Dowle.

Att: 2,992.