MORECAMBE kept their first clean sheet of the season as their first ever trip to the capital of jellied eels Canvey Island brought a satisfying point.

The Shrimps made the long trek to face the newly promoted Essex side for the first time in their history and the 0-0 draw was probably flattering to the hosts.

Morecambe missed a host of good chances with Wayne Curtis hitting the crossbar just after the break, while Kieran Walmsley and Michael Twiss, normally ultra-reliable, missed great opportunities to sink the Canvey crew.

Morecambe's defence held firm to keep Canvey's few attacks at bay with the dangerous Lee Boylan, one of the mainstays behind Canvey's rise into the Nationwide Conference, rarely getting a kick on an afternoon built large on frustration.

A swirling wind around the Park Lane ground totally impossible to confuse with THE Park Lane in London's West End a few miles away made for little spectator comforts and the game was ruined as a result.

Canvey, as you would expect, made the brighter start without ever threatening a serious goal with Adam Sollitt snuffing out any danger.

While at the other end Twiss wasted his great chance following good work by Garry Hunter. Twiss was set clear but shot at the keeper.

And it was Hunter who gave the Shrimps another opportunity as he twisted away from his man to put Curtis clear.

His hum-dinger of a shot beat Danny Potter all ends up but with Morecambe ready to celebrate a winner, the ball bounced to safety off the underside of the crossbar.

Canvey's attacks were few and far between as Chris Duffy shot wide when he should have hit the target before Morecambe had another chance to claim all three points but Garry Thompson blasted well over the bar.

Morecambe: Sollitt, Howard, Heard, Bentley, Swan, Blackburn, Perkins, Walmsley, Hunter, Twiss, Curtis Subs: Stringfellow, Thompson, Carlton, McFlynn, Robinson