MICHAEL Twiss scored twice to re-ignite the flame of Morecambe's play-off torch as promotion rivals Halifax Town were sent back over the Pennines pointless.

The outstanding Twiss lifted the gloom from a game that never really reached the heights but the three points put the Shrimps right back into the play-off fray much to the delight of the majority of a near-2,000 crowd.

And now Jim Harvey's men sit just two points behind the Shaymen, who hold that all-important fifth spot, with a real chance of making the end-of-season jamboree.

The win was doubly important for Morecambe after their shock defeat at lowly York City seven days previously and, to be fair, they were always in control in a game of few chances.

Morecambe started well with Keiran Walsmley shooting just wide of Iain Dunbavin's goal, Jim Bentley volleying over and Lee Elam forcing a smart save out of Dunbavin.

Elam was determined to do well against one of his former clubs and he set up Twiss, who couldn't find space or the target, while Danny Carlton was causing Halifax problems.

The Shaymen had not been much of an attacking force in the opening 30 minutes but they were inches away from one of the goals of the season in their first attack of note when Darren Mansaram tried his luck from 30 yards after Darren Kempson finished up on his backside as he tried to clear.

Mansaram's shot was dipping and beat Adam Sollitt but went just over the bar.

Then the keeper made a decent save to keep out a Gordon Chin effort and excelled himself when he went full stretch to block a header from Christie Park old boy Ryan Sugden two minutes into the second half.

Dunbavin stopped Garry Hunter's volley as Morecambe tried to step up a gear and they got their reward on 73 minutes when Twiss and Wayne Curtis linked up before feeding Garry Thompson to shoot. But Twiss was lurking with intent and made no mistake for 1-0.

As the Shrimps searched for a killer second goal, Dunbavin saved well from Walmsley and Kempson but was powerless to prevent Morecambe's second.

A Jamie Heard cross was handled by defender Chris Clarke and Twiss slotted home the penalty in the 90th minute.

That wasn't the end of the scoring, however, as Town won a spot kick of their own three minutes into stoppage time after a clumsy challenge by Curtis.

Craig Midgley made no mistake from the spot to give the York-shiremen their consolation ahead of their trip back along the M62.

MORECAMBE: Sollitt, Per-kins, Bentley, Kempson, Black-burn, Elam (Heard 64), Hunter (Kelly 90), Walmsley, Curtis, Carlton (Thompson 64), Twiss. Subs (Not Used): Swan, Robinson.