Morecambe 0 Bradford City 1

A GOAL in the fourth minute of stoppage time was enough to prevent Morecambe from claiming a second Football League scalp of the season and end their interest in the LDV Vans Trophy.

It was rough justice on the Shrimps when City substitute Joe Brown's looping header floated into the net over rookie goalkeeper Scott Davies - who was on the field for less than 10 minutes as replacement for the injured Ryan Robinson.

For this was a game in which the home side raised their game and made enough chances to have embarrassed Division One Bradford.

But a combination of less-than-clinical finishing, last ditch tackles and a man-of-the-match performance from City goalkeeper Russell Howarth sentenced them to undeserved defeat.

Howarth was in action after less than a minute as Wayne Curtis hit a 20-yard shot following good set-up play by Danny Carlton and Michael Twiss.

And the same player hit an effort narrowly over the bar just seconds later as Morecambe made the brighter start.

Marc Bridge-Wilkinson replied by making home keeper Robinson dive smartly to his right to push a long range effort away for a corner in the fourth minute - but that was Bradford's only on target shot in a first half dominated by the Shrimps.

Howarth saved with his feet from Curtis, leapt spectacularly to turn away a close range Twiss header and blocked goalbound shots from Curtis and Keiran Walmsley.

And as Morecambe turned up the heat around the half hour mark he was also rescued by a series of blocks by the immaculate Damion Stewart and Darren Holloway.

It got so bad for Bradford that manager Colin Todd made a double change on 40 minutes - pulling off the ineffective Bobby Petta and Owen Morrison for Lewis Emmanuel and Ben Muirhead in a bid to stem the flow.

It made little immediate difference as Carlton beat the offside trap before squaring the ball to Twiss - having his best game for Morecambe for some time - only to see Stewart slide in with yet another crucial block.

Colin Todd gave his troops a roasting and then sent them out early for the second half and his words seemed to work as Bradford started brighter.

It seemed they must take an unexpected lead on 48 minutes when veteran Steve Claridge met a deep cross and headed goalwards.

Robinson's initial save fell straight to Andy Cooke less than two yards from goal. He couldn't possibly miss - but somehow Robinson and Walmsley combined to keep out his three attempts to stab the ball home in an amazing pinball' melee.

Bradford came straight back on the attack and Tom Kearney should also have broken the deadlock as he timed his run from midfield to perfection to meet a deflected cross. But his header was straight at Robinson.

At the other end, Jim Bentley headed wide from a corner when he should probably have been on target and Curtis hit a screamer from distance which Haworth clawed away.

His best save came on the hour as Carlton went through one-on-one after smart work by Twiss coming in from the right. The keeper somehow deflected his shot just past the post for another Morecambe corner.

The match was more even now as Bradford sensed they might nick it - and how right they were.

Lee Dodgson replaced Curtis for Morecambe on 68 minutes and Joe Brown was swapped for ageing warhorse Claridge on 81.

What turned out to be the pivotal moment came one minute later, though, as Darran Kempson's backpass was too short and saw Robinson race from his line to clash with Cooke on the edge of his six yard box.

The keeper won the tackle and pushed the ball away for a corner - but as a result had to be stretchered from the field and replaced by young Davies.

There was still time for one more Morecambe chance as Dave Perkins set up Walmsley for a fierce drive from distance which Haworth held cleanly.

But with Shrimps eyeing extra time they relaxed seconds too early and were punished. A high cross from the left by Muirhead was met by Brown's equally loopy header to steal the result.

MORECAMBE Robinson 7 (Davies 82), Walmsley 7, Kempson 7, Bentley 7, Howard 7, Thompson 8, Brannan 7, Perkins 7, Curtis 7 Dodgson 68), Twiss 8, Carlton 7. Subs not used: Kelly, Stringfellow, Lloyd.