Port Vale fell off top spot in League Two after defeat by 10-man Morecambe.

The Shrimps broke the deadlock on 63 minutes when Gary McDonald's cross fell into the path of forward Lewis Alessandra who bundled the ball home.

McDonald cleared Darren Purse's header off the line before Morecambe's Andrew Wright was sent off for two bookings.

With a man advantage, Vale piled on the pressure, but away keeper Barry Roche denied Jennison Myrie-Williams and Ryan Burge to help earn his side victory.

League Two top scorer Tom Pope also saw an effort cleared off the line in a goalmouth scramble as Vale lost for the first time since New Year's Day.

Vale drop back to second, two points behind Gillingham, who beat Dagenham & Redbridge.

Morecambe's solid display earned them their fourth victory in five matches to move them up to 10th.

VIEW FROM THE DRESSING ROOM

Morecambe manager Jim Bentley told BBC Radio Lancashire:

"Vale are a strong outfit who have done well this season, and they've got a manager who knows what football's all about.

"They've got players who can hurt you and the top scorer in the division in their ranks.

"To come away with a 1-0 victory with 10 men makes it all the sweeter."

Lineup, Bookings (6) & Substitutions (6)

Port Vale

  • 01 Neal
  • 02 Yates (Shuker - 78' )
  • 06 Purse
  • 24 Duffy
  • 36 Jones
  • 07 Loft
  • 09 Myrie-Williams Booked
  • 23 Burge Booked
  • 10 Vincent (Andrew - 81' )
  • 11 Pope
  • 29 Hughes (Williamson - 69' )

Substitutes

  • 03 Taylor
  • 15 Shuker
  • 18 Morsy
  • 26 Birchall
  • 08 Dodds
  • 16 Andrew
  • 19 Williamson

Morecambe

  • 01 Roche
  • 02 Fenton
  • 06 Haining
  • 08 Wright Dismissed after an earlier booking
  • 15 McCready
  • 22 Parrish
  • 11 Ellison (Williams - 86' )
  • 16 Drummond
  • 18 McDonald
  • 09 Alessandra (Holroyd - 75' )
  • 27 Redshaw Booked (Burrow - 70' Booked )

Substitutes

  • 25 Arestidou
  • 23 Doyle
  • 17 Fleming
  • 20 Mwasile
  • 10 Williams
  • 14 Burrow
  • 26 Holroyd
Ref: Phillips
Att: 5,513

Match Stats

Shots

13 5

On target

8 2

Corners

6 4

Fouls

8 11

Live Text Commentary

90:00 +5:04 Full time

Full Time The final whistle is blown by the referee.

90:00 +4:22

Effort from inside the area by Daniel Jones misses to the right of the target.

90:00 +2:53

Richard Duffy takes a shot. Barry Roche makes a save.

90:00 +2:36

Jennison Myrie-Williams takes a shot. Save by Barry Roche.

90:00 +1:27

Doug Loft produces a right-footed shot from inside the area that goes over the bar.

90:00 +0:47

Tom Pope is ruled offside. Barry Roche takes the free kick.

89:03

Ryan Burge takes the outswinging corner, Tom Pope takes a shot. Save by Barry Roche.

87:59

Jennison Myrie-Williams produces a right-footed shot from the edge of the box and misses to the right of the goal.

87:23

Inswinging corner taken from the left by-line by Ryan Burge, clearance by Jordan Burrow.

85:18 Substitution

Substitution Ryan Williams replaces Kevin Ellison.

82:32

Corner taken right-footed by Ryan Burge to the near post, Close range header by Tom Pope goes over the bar.

82:12

Ryan Burge takes a shot. Save made by Barry Roche.

80:42

Inswinging corner taken left-footed by Ryan Burge, fantastic save by Barry Roche.

80:42 Substitution

Substitution Calvin Andrew comes on in place of Ashley Vincent.

79:26

Nicholas Fenton takes the free kick.

79:26 Booking

Booking Ryan Burge is shown a yellow card.

79:16

Free kick awarded for a foul by Ryan Burge on Nicholas Fenton.

77:51

Ryan Burge restarts play with the free kick.

77:51 Booking

Booking Jordan Burrow is booked.

77:42

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Darren Purse by Jordan Burrow.

77:04 Substitution

Substitution Chris Shuker replaces Adam Yates.

76:00

The assistant referee signals for offside against Tom Pope. Barry Roche takes the indirect free kick.

74:50 Substitution

Substitution Chris Holroyd on for Lewis Alessandra.

72:24

Free kick taken by Ryan Burge.

72:24 Dismissal

Dismissal Andrew Wright is sent off.

71:18

Unfair challenge on Ashley Vincent by Andrew Wright results in a free kick.

69:06 Substitution

Substitution Jordan Burrow joins the action as a substitute, replacing Jack Redshaw.

68:07 Substitution

Substitution Ben Williamson comes on in place of Lee Hughes.

67:36

Ashley Vincent takes a shot. Save made by Barry Roche.

65:25

Darren Purse gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Jack Redshaw. Free kick taken by Andrew Wright.

63:49

Outswinging corner taken left-footed by Ryan Burge, Darren Purse takes a shot. Blocked by Gary McDonald.

62:26

Kevin Ellison provided the assist for the goal.

62:26 Goal scored

Goal - Lewis Alessandra - Port Vale 0 - 1 Morecambe Lewis Alessandra fires in a goal from close range to the bottom left corner of the goal. Port Vale 0-1 Morecambe.

56:59

Shot by Stewart Drummond from deep inside the six-yard box clear the bar.

56:10

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Will Haining by Doug Loft. Will Haining restarts play with the free kick.

50:35

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Kevin Ellison by Tom Pope. Nicholas Fenton restarts play with the free kick.

49:56

Doug Loft fouled by Lewis Alessandra, the ref awards a free kick. Indirect free kick taken by Chris Neal.

49:02

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Jennison Myrie-Williams by Andrew Wright. Darren Purse takes the indirect free kick.

47:46

Free kick awarded for a foul by Jennison Myrie-Williams on Jack Redshaw. Indirect free kick taken by Will Haining.

46:31

Effort on goal by Doug Loft from just outside the area goes harmlessly over the target.

45:01

The referee gets the second half started.

45:00 +3:01 Half time

Half Time The half-time whistle blows.

45:00 +2:25

Will Haining gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Jennison Myrie-Williams. Free kick crossed right-footed by Ryan Burge from right by-line, clearance made by Nicholas Fenton.

45:00 +1:15

Christopher McCready fouled by Ashley Vincent, the ref awards a free kick. Christopher McCready restarts play with the free kick.

44:39

Unfair challenge on Daniel Jones by Andrew Parrish results in a free kick. Free kick taken by Daniel Jones.

43:43

Daniel Jones crosses the ball, Tom Pope takes a shot. Save made by Barry Roche.

42:56

Lewis Alessandra is flagged offside by the assistant referee. Free kick taken by Chris Neal.

39:16

Darren Purse takes the indirect free kick.

39:16 Booking

Booking Booking for Andrew Wright for unsporting behaviour.

38:43

Andrew Wright challenges Jennison Myrie-Williams unfairly and gives away a free kick.

35:05

Corner taken by Lewis Alessandra from the left by-line, clearance by Tom Pope.

33:23

Tom Pope is ruled offside. Barry Roche takes the indirect free kick.

30:31

Tom Pope is caught offside. Will Haining restarts play with the free kick.

29:31

Free kick taken by Barry Roche.

29:31 Booking

Booking Jennison Myrie-Williams goes into the book for unsporting behaviour.

29:23

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Kevin Ellison by Jennison Myrie-Williams.

26:18

The assistant referee signals for offside against Lee Hughes. Free kick taken by Barry Roche.

25:09

Free kick awarded for a foul by Andrew Parrish on Ashley Vincent. Free kick taken by Richard Duffy.

21:54

Long range shot by Andrew Wright goes wide right of the target.

20:20

Inswinging corner taken right-footed by Lewis Alessandra, Gary McDonald takes a shot. Chris Neal makes a fantastic save.

17:36

Free kick taken by Ryan Burge.

17:36 Booking

Booking The referee shows Jack Redshaw a yellow card for unsporting behaviour.

17:30

Free kick awarded for a foul by Jack Redshaw on Ashley Vincent.

16:19

Foul by Tom Pope on Will Haining, free kick awarded. Free kick taken by Barry Roche.

15:30

Andrew Wright challenges Jennison Myrie-Williams unfairly and gives away a free kick. Free kick crossed by Ryan Burge, clearance made by Will Haining.

12:23

Outswinging corner taken from the left by-line by Daniel Jones.

12:23

Outswinging corner taken by Andrew Parrish from the left by-line.

10:17

Foul by Lewis Alessandra on Daniel Jones, free kick awarded. Indirect free kick taken by Ryan Burge.

8:29

Andrew Parrish produces a cross, Header from deep inside the area by Kevin Ellison goes harmlessly over the crossbar.

1:10

Corner taken right-footed by Lewis Alessandra from the left by-line, Adam Yates manages to make a clearance.

0:25

Effort on goal by Ryan Burge from 18 yards. Save by Barry Roche.

0:00

The game begins.

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