MORECAMBE are right back in the chase for a place in the Nationwide Conference play-offs.

A 3-0 Christie Park victory over rock-bottom Northwich Victoria combined with defeats for many of the teams around them has lifted the Shrimps back to seventh place in the league table.

A Danny Carlton brace was backed by a Gary Thompson strike to seal the three invaluable points leaving Morecambe just a point behind fifth placed Shrewsbury in the race for a shot at Football league status.

There was precious little to cheer about in a dour opening to the game as a tentative Shrimps side gave their visitors plenty of respect perhaps more than their lowly status deserved.

Victoria's Colin Potts was first to have a shot at goal, his 20-yard effort on three minutes drifting harmlessly wide of the target.

Skipper Stewart Drummond was first to show as the Shrimps took over, though, letting fly from distance on seven minutes to bring a smart save from Andy Woods.

A Dean Howell free kick and a shot from Terry McFlynn, both from outside the area, failed to trouble Woods as the stalemate continued.

But leading scorer Carlton got the crucial opener as More-cambe stepped up the pace on 28 minutes racing past two defenders to meet a through ball from Drummond and slot his shot under the advancing Woods.

Confidence immediately flowed through the home team and the pressure began to mount on the visitors, with Thompson seeing a shot following a free kick turned around a post on 31 minutes.

It was only delaying the inevitable, though, as Thompson picked up the ball virtually on the half way line and set off on a trademark run at the defence on 35 minutes beating two Northwich men to slide the ball into the bottom right hand corner for a 2-0 lead.

And the same player gave Carlton the chance to effectively end the contest on 40 minutes as he once more tormented the defenders with his pace and guile before being pushed to the ground in the penalty area.

Carlton stepped up to take the spot kick and sent Woods the wrong way as he placed the ball into the corner of the net.

With the points already in the bag you could excuse Shrimps for slacking off a little after the break allowing Victoria to share possession and even threaten Craig Mawson's goal.

Veteran defender Shaun Teale came closest to a score as his goalbound shot on 58 minutes was blocked by Jim Bentley.

Chris Blackburn and Scott Willis both had long range efforts for the visitors while, at the other end, Michael Stringfellow, lively subs Nick Rogan and Garry Hunter and Carlton all had efforts saved.

And Carlton was unlucky not to complete his hat trick near the end as a linesman's flag stopped him on what looked like a well-timed run on goal.

MORECAMBE: Mawson, Walmsley, McKearney, Bentley, Perkins, Thompson, String-fellow, Drummond, Howell (Hunter 69), McFlynn (Rogan 69), Carlton.