Sammy McIlroy made several changes from the last home game, looking to find the right blend and get the first league win of the season.

And the home side got the dream start with a goal after just four minutes.

Stewart Drummond collected the ball from a Shrewsbury goal-kick and spotted Rene Howe making a forward run.

Howe raced on to Drummond's incisive ball and powered into the box before slotting the ball past the onrushing Luke Daniels for the opener.

Drummond was really pulling all the strings for the home side early on and, after eight minutes, from another of his passes Hunter raced down the right before pulling a pass across to O'Carroll. But it was slightly behind the striker and he couldn't get it out of his feet to get any power on the shot from a good scoring position.

At the other end Grant Holt drifted onto the end of a free-kick but couldn't direct his glancing shot past Barry Roche.

Shrewsbury started to get into the game towards the half hour, with Chris Humphreys showing his pace on the right and giving Andy Parrish plenty of work.

Dave Artell must have been having horrific flashbacks aftr 34 minutes when Cansdell-Sherriff floated in a cross towards Holt. Artell, who put into his own net at Bury, got his head to the ball and directed it just inches over his own bar.

Then, following a Morecambe corner, Hunter whipped in a dangerous ball which Howe touched goalward, forcing a super reflex save from Daniels.

Morecambe had the first chance of the second half, Hunter whipping in a swerving low shot that Daniels struggled to parry wide.

The home side had had to absorb a lot of pressure at the end of the first half but began the second the stronger and could have increased their lead after 58 minutes but Howe's shot on the turn from 10 yards was just wide of the target.

Drummond was still giving Shrewsbury cause to regret letting him return to Morecambe last season with his command of the midfield. And he nearly made them even more gutted driving forward to hit a 20-yarder that Daniels had to stoop to smother.

But just as they had in the first half, Shrewsbury came on strong and Dave Hibbert went close with a great shot on the turn after 72 minutes which was just hit tto close to Roche and the big keeper was able to collect.

Matty Blinkhorn made an impact when he came on as substitute, playing in a lovely short pass inside the box that found O'Carroll who stabbed in a shot from close range that Daniels blocked with his body.

Shrewsbury had a shout for a penalty with five minutes of normal time left when Jim Bentley blocked Hibbert's run but the referee decided it was merely a case of a strong challenge.

McIlroy rewarded players who earned their side a great cup win at Oldham on Saturday with a starting place at home to Shrewsbury on Saturday.

Stewart Drummond, the former Shrews skipper, returned to the Shrimps midfield alongside Garry Hunter, with Diarmuid O'Carroll also getting a run up front.

Craig Stanley was named on the bench.

Morecambe: Roche, Artell, Bentley, Hunter, Curtis, Howe, Wainwright, O'Carroll, Drummond, McCann, Parrish. Subs Davies, Stanley, McLachlan, Blinkhorn, McStay.

Shrewsbury: Daniels, Jackson, Coughlan, Hibbert, Herd, Davies, Holt, Humphrey, Tierney, Cansdell-Sherriff, McIntyre. Subs Garner, Ashton, Pugh, Langmead, Hindmarch.


Att: 2,318

(524)


Subs:
Morecambe: Hunter (Stanley 76), Howe (Blinkhorn 76)

Shrewsbury: Cansdell-Sherriff (Ashton, 69), Humphreys (Pugh 76)

Bookings

Morecambe: McCann

Shrewsbury: Cansdell-Sherriff.