Shrimps deny Shrimpers

Morecambe spoiled Southend's promotion party with a fine 3-1 victory at the Globe Arena.Two second half goals from the home side robbed Phil Brown's Shrimpers of the victory they needed to clinch automatic promotion on a frustrating day for the visitors.Morecambe took the lead in the fifth minute with a well worked goal. Jamie Devitt found Aaron Wildig down the right and his low cross was hammered home convincingly by Jack Redshaw at the far post.The lead lasted just four minutes as the Shrimpers levelled through Jack Payne. David Worrall was the creator with a great run and cross down the left before teeing up the striker who beat Andreas Arestidou to his right with a miss hit shot from 12 yards out.The game then swung from end to end with the home side coming closed to a second on 20 minutes when Redshaw found Wildig but the midfielder's shot curled inches over Dan Bentley's crossbar.Southend started the second half the stronger but they shipped a sloppy second when Aaron Wildig nipped in between goalkeeper Bentley and central defender Adam Barrett to poke the ball home from an acuter angle three yards from goal.Southend hit back with Payne denied by an excellent save from Arestidou and Keven Hurst seeing a goalbound shot cleared off the line by Laurence Wilson in the 65th minute.Seconds later the miss was compounded as the home side scored a superb third. Redshaw threaded through the perfect pass for Jamie Devitt and his right foot shot beat Bentley low to his right hand side.Southend threw everything at the Morecambe goal with Arestidou saving sharply from Joe Pigott and Barry Corr to ensure the Shrimps finished the season on a high.