A KEIRAN Walmsley goal just after half time gave an unfamiliar looking More-cambe side a surprise away win at Broadhall Way.

Walmlsey slotted home from just inside the penalty area following a run and pass from David Perkins on 49 minutes.

It may be too late to lift the Shrimps into the higher reaches of the Nationwide Conference for the end-of-season play-offs, but the fifth away win of the season ends a dismal run of form on the road for Jim Harvey's men.

And it was an emphatic answer to skipper Stewart Drummond's criticism of 'too soft' Shrimps last week - even though the hosts missed enough chances to have won the game at a canter.

Morecambe were without midfielders Garry Thompson, Michael Stringfellow, Terry McFlynn, Dean Howell and Chris Blackburn for the long trip south which saw youngster Paul Osborne get his first start alongside Drummond in the team's 'engine room'.

Wayne Curtis was recalled for the first time since returning from a loan spell at Barrow, lining up on the left side of midfield. And Ryan Sugden also made the team at the expense of top scorer Danny Carlton up front.

There was no disguising the unfamiliarity of the line-up as Stevenage made the early running, with both Justin Richards and Anthony Elding finding the space to cause problems for the Morecambe back line.

But the first real strike on goal came from Curtis on seven minutes as he received the ball from a Dave McKearney free kick and cut inside to beat his marker and shoot - bringing a good diving save from home keeper Mark Westhead.

In reply, Stevenage twice set up the lively Elding with gilt-edged chances in the opening 20 minutes, but he wastefully shot over the bar on both occasions.

On 24 minutes a blocked George Boyd shot resulted in a corner that saw Nathan Bunce head his chance straight at Craig Mawson when he should have done better.

And then Elding again failed to hit the target with a header as Borough continued to make the running.

He finally got a shot on goal on 36 minutes as Stevenage continued to dominate, but Mawson - returning to the side after injury - was equal to the task.

Morecambe could count themselves lucky to be on level terms at the break but it was a very different story on the restart as the pattern altered.

Once Walmlsey had put Shrimps into an unexpected lead the whole side raised their game and began to push Stevenage back for the first time.

Osborne tested Westhead with a long range effort in the 63rd minute and on 66 minutes a Ryan Sugden shot from outside the area also forced him into action.

As the game became more stretched and play swung from end to end, Perkins blocked a Dean Brennan effort and Barry Laker missed with a header from six yards following a corner.

But Morecambe were not threatened too often - and could have extended the lead in stoppage time when substitute Carlton beat two defenders and created space for a shot. But Westhead made the save.

Morecambe: Mawson, Walmsley, McKearney, Bentley, Garnett (Murphy 46), Osborne, Drummond, Hunter, Perkins, Curtis, Sugden (Carlton 74).