For the second away game running , the Gills will be wondering how they haven't taken all three points. Just as at Hereford, Andy Hessenthaler's side dominated possession but failed to turn their chances into goals.

The game was played in a strong wind that was blowing into the faces of the 200+ travelling Gillingham fans, the Shrimps had it at their backs in the first-half but failed to use it to their advantage. The Gills dominating with Jack Payne controlling things in midfield....

Gills boss Andy Hessenthaler made four changes following the home defeat inflicted by Lincoln City last time out. As expected Lance Cronin replaced the injured Alan Julian in goal while Barry Fuller, the aforementioned Payne and Cody McDonald came in for John Nutter, Josh Gowling and Kevin Maher. Cronin and McDonald made their Gills debuts while Fuller made his first appearance since getting injured in the pre-season game at Ebbsfleet.

In a new look defence, skipper Fuller took up his usual right-back role, Matt Lawrence moved to central defence alongside Tony Sinclair with Chris Palmer at left-back. Andy Barcham and Mark Bentley played either side of Danny Spiller and Payne in midfield while McDonald joined Akinfenwa upfront.

Early chances came at both ends, Fuller shot high and wide for the Gills while Andy Fleming headed a great chance over from close range, this followed a quick short corner down the left.

In the fourth minute Barcham broke goalwards, running onto a Palmer pass, but saw his left-foot shot turned aside by Barry Roche in the home goal. Shortly afterwards Spiller shot from just outside the area straight at the keeper.

In the 17^th minute full-back Laurence Wilson cracked a decent left-foot shot inches over Cronin's bar. Four minutes later Mark Duffy fired another effort just wide.

The Gills should have scored in the 29^th minute. Akinfenwa held the ball up and fed the advancing Barcham. He played the ball low across the face of goal which Roche got a hand to but couldn't prevent the ball running loose to Bentley, his goalbound strike was blocked by a defender.

Another great chance followed in the 36^th minute. Barcham was again played in by a neat ball from Akinfenwa but Roche stuck out a hand to deflect his curling right-foot effort wide for a corner. From Palmer's flag-kick Spiller had two shots blocked.

In the 39^th minute Barcham was brought down right on the edge of the area by Darren Moss. A well worked training ground routine saw Payne touch the ball to Spiller, he turned and fired a rising shot goalwards that was helped on its way by Roche.

The only blight on a great first-half performance was a harsh 32^nd minute booking for Barry Fuller a challenge on Duffy.

H/T: 0 - 0

Sammy McIlroy swapped things round at the break in an attempt to halt the Gills domination, forward Paul Mullin replacing Moss.

An early chance for the home side saw Fleming head a Chris Shuker header wide.

In the 58^th minute Bentley found Akinfenwa who in turn laid the ball through to Spiller. The midfielder perhaps delayed too long and his cross-cum-shot evaded everyone.

The Gills were made to pay within seconds as Morecambe took the lead against the run of play, Duffy crossed from the left and midfielder Craig Stanley steered a header wide of the exposed Cronin.

Other than the goal the Gillingham keeper certainly enjoyed a quiet debut with next to nothing to do.

Soon after Akinfenwa's turn and burst forward was curtailed by a Stanley challenge that earned the Shrimp a booking.

A long throw from Payne almost saw a repeat of Akinfenwa's opening day goal, unfortunately this time his back-header drifted just wide of the far post.

Both Luke Rooney and Mark McCammon were introduced with 15 minutes remaining but the balance of play had shifted towards the home team as first Phil Jevons saw a shot blocked by Lawrence and Mullin put a header over.

Laurence Wilson joined the others in the referee's notebook for a foul on the marauding Fuller in the 82^nd minute.The Gills certainly made them pay by deservedly equalising from the resultant free-kick.

Palmer curled a decent ball in towards the far post which seemed to have evaded everyone. Everyone except Spiller that is, he stole in behind everyone to place a header across the face of goal and in off the far post. Boy was he, and everyone on the bench where he ran to, pleased.

The Gills were back on the front foot once again, Akinfenwa saw a near post shot blocked by Roche and Spiller burst into the area only to send his shot into the Gillingham fans behind the goal.

Then after Lawrence picked up a delayed booking, Barcham almost won it for the Gills. His terrific strike forcing a great flying save from Roche.

The fact that Roche won the man-of-the-match award for Morecambe certainly showed who had the upper hand.

Morecambe - Roche, Moss (Mullin H/T), Scott, Stanley, Shuker (Drummond 66), Jevons (Spencer 87), McCready, Fleming, Duffy, Wilson, Parrish. Subs: JBentley, Hunter, Hendry, Walker.

Gillingham - Cronin, Fuller, M Bentley (Rooney 75), McDonald (McCammon 75), Barcham, Palmer, Lawrence, Spiller, Akinfenwa, J Payne, Sinclair. Subs: Julian, Nutter, Maher, Gowling, S Payne.

ATT: 2,325