Crawley suffered their second defeat in three games after going down to play-off chasing Morecambe on Saturday.

Town were second best for long periods of the game but in the end came down to a single strike from Morecambe's man of the match Garry Thompson just after the half hour.

Crawley's joint caretaker-boss John Yems had mixed emotions at the end saying the Shrimps probably deserved the win but praised his side for their never-say-die attitude.

He said: "Morecambe did get behind us a few times and missed a few good chances but we kept going and might have pinched one at the end.

"The pitch, wind and the referee did make things difficult for us and not a lot went our way but we kept going right to the death.

"There are a few lads who know they could have done better and the goal we gave away was the result of some schoolboy defending but we will look to kick on again against Weymouth.

"They beat us earlier in the season so we owe them one. It won't be easy but I am confident that we can get back on track.

"Every game from now until the end of the season is important for us.

"We haven't set ourselves a points target because I don't think that would make much sense but we will be going all out to keep the gap between us and the bottom sides."

The home side wasted a number of chances to extend their lead in the second half but the one-goal deficit always meant Crawley had a chance to get back into the game. And they came close in a frantic final few minutes.

The impressive Darius Charles was denied a penalty when he fell under the challenge of Shrimps' midfielder Neil Sorvel and Dannie Bulman came within inches of scoring a late equaliser when his fierce volley flew inches over the bar.

Although the Crawley midfield struggled to make headway on a muddy, bobbly pitch there were still plenty of signs of promise for Town who went into the game missing regulars Marcus Richardson and Tony Scully.

Elliot Benyon and Scott Rendell, who scored a hat-trick against the Shrimps in a 4-0 win over Sammy McIlroy's outfit in October, looked sharp and forged some good openings.

Rendell drilled a shot from the edge of the area just wide on ten minutes and then saw a snapshot knocked away by Adam Yates before Benyon missed a chance to turn a good cross from his strike partner home at the near post.

But after a bright period Town were put under pressure.

Thompson was unlucky not to open the scoring on 15 minutes with a fine effort which came back off the right hand post with Ben Hamer beaten.

And Crawley then had their keeper to thank for a fine save from another superb Thompson effort that was heading for the bottom left-hand corner.

Danny Carlton then went on to waste a host of chances for the home side.

Twice he headed straight at Hamer from left wing crosses and then lobbed an effort wide of the target under pressure from the onrushing goalkeeper.

Matthew Blinkhorn saw a late close range effort cleared off the line before Crawley staged a late rally with Lee Blackburn forcing Steven Drench into a neat tip over from a curling free-kick in the final stages of the game.

But the Shrimps held firm to take three more vital points in their quest to seal a play-off place for a second successive season.

Morecambe: Drench, Yates, Bentley, Adams, Howard, Thompson, Stanley, Sorvel, Curtis, Carlton, Blinkhorn. Subs: Davies, Hunter, Brannan, Blackburn, Burns.

Crawley Town: Hamer, Hiley, Woozley, Okuonghae, Charles, Blackburn, Bulman, Evans, Bull, Rendell, Benyon. Subs: Tolfrey, England, Macleod, Marshall, Blackman.