Strugglng Morecambe suffered their second successive home defeat when they went down 2-1 to Dario Gradi's Crewe.

Two goals at the beginning and the start of the first half were enough to give Crewe the three points and add to Morecambe's growing problems at the foot of League Two.

Crewe went ahead after just four minutes. Clayton Donaldson broke through the centre of Morecambe's defence and with only Barry Roche to beat produced a clinical finish from just inside the box.

Morecambe hit back three minutes later with a 25-yard effort from Craig Stanley beating Rhys Taylor but coming back off the right-hand post. Andy Fleming then tested Taylor with a shot from the edge of the area.

Crewe always looked threatening going forward however and Donaldson was denied a second by Roche and the Morecambe keeper produced a great save to deny Byron Moore.

Moore was denied by Roche again but added a second Crewe goal on the stroke of half time when he slotted home Shaun Miller's lay off when left unmarked in the box to score from 12 yards out.

Morecambe dominated the second half and went close through Stanley and Phil Jevons before the impressive Jimmy Spencer hit the woodwork for the second time in the afternoon with a neat volley.

Morecambe had a glorious chance to pull one back after 84 minutes with a penalty but the normally deadly Phil Jevons saw his effort saved by Rhys Taylor.

The home side were rewarded with a goal at the death when Chris Shuker's shot from the left hand side of the area took a deflection to beat Taylor but it was too little too late.