A late goal from Teddy Collis earned Morecambe a sixth successive home win and another valuable three points with a 1-0 victory over Darlington in National League North, writes DEREK QUINN.

The striker came off the bench with 10 minutes to go on Tuesday and made his mark with a fine finish three minutes from time to give the Shrimps victory over a resolute Darlington.

Boss Adam Lakeland made one change to the Morecambe side that beat Merthyr with Isaac Buckley-Ricketts starting in place of the injured Matty Daly.

The Shrimps began on the front foot, Darlington keeper Bobby Jones saving smartly from Liam Hogan in the third minute as he tried to poke home from close range following a Jake Cain corner.

Jones was then called into action again one minute later with a comfortable save from Buckley-Ricketts before both Joe Garner and Paul Lewis failed to hit the target as the home side put on the early pressure.

Taelor O’Kane missed a great chance for the Shrimps on the stroke of half-time and was almost made to pay in added time as Myles Boney was forced into a crucial save from Dylan Stephenson.

The second period was more even as Buckley-Ricketts was again denied by Jones after being played in on goal.

Darlington hit back with Jonah Lowes stinging the palms of Boney and Ethan Fitzhugh flashing an effort inches wide.

Aidan Rutledge dragged a shot wide for the visitors on the hour and, as the game entered the final 10 minutes, Stephenson’s long-range shot flew just over the crossbar.

Morecambe were denied what looked to be a good penalty claim when new boy Marcus Neill was brought down in the box.

Then, with both sides looking set to share the spoils, Collis was played through on goal and produced the coolest of finishes to earn a dogged three points.

Morecambe: Boney, Coxe (Davis 89), Hogan, Baines, Curley, Newby (Blois 80), Lewis, O’Kane (Williams 70), Buckley-Ricketts (Collis 80), Garner (Neill 70), Cain. Subs not used: Young, Dobson.

Darlington: Jones, Bell, Lees, Kilsby, Atkinson, McLaughlin (Henson 89), Lowes (Hatfield 71), Stephenson, Fitzhugh (Render 78), Rutledge (Platt 62), Hazel (Beck 82). Subs not used: Thompson, Stanton.

Referee: Scott Henry.

Attendance: 2,185.