MORECAMBE remain on course for a tilt at the end of season Nationwide Conference play-offs - but face a tough task if they are to reach the latter stages of the FA Trophy.

For the second time in three weeks, Jim Harvey's side make the long trip to Somerset to face Yeovil this weekend - this time in a bid to keep their Trophy hopes alive.

The Shrimps crashed out at the semi-final stage of the same competition last year, while Yeovil went on to beat Stevenage in the final.

Both teams are focussing on chasing promotion to the Football League - but the FA Trophy provides a welcome distraction from the scrap for points, plus the possibility of a place in the showpiece final at Villa Park.

Morecambe's squad has a strong look about it at the moment, with long-term injury victim Robbie Talbot getting closer to full match fitness.

Victory over Hereford United at Christie Park on Saturday left the Shrimps firmly in the play-off places.

They produced a fine performance against one of the clubs challenging them for a spot in the top five, though it took half an hour of entertaining football before Morecambe were able to break the deadlock.

The two wingers combined, with Garry Thompson breaking away down the right and squaring the ball for Lee Elam to score at the far post.

Things got much worse for the visitors just three minutes later as an Adriano Rigoglioso free kick met the head of Hereford defender Andrew Tretton, who somehow managed to turn the ball past his own keeper for a second Morecambe goal.

And, to cap a miserable first half for the men from the Welsh borders, Danny Williams was sent off for lashing out at a Morecambe defender.

It should have been all over, but Hereford showed their fighting quality and almost found their way back through Steve Guinan's header early in the second half.

But he made amends for the miss on 70 minutes when he turned a Jay Lovett cross past Craig Mawson.

There were a few more nervous moments for Jim Harvey's side, but Wayne Curtis eased any remaining fears when he finished a Morecambe counter-attack by sliding the ball past keeper Matt Baker.

This was a vital result, Hereford have a game in hand over Morecambe and, had they claimed a share of the points on Saturday, the gap between the Shrimps and the top five would have been a daunting one.

One unknown quantity in the play-off race could be Dagenham and Redbridge. The Daggers, runners-up last year, made a slow start this season but, after their FA Cup heroics came to an end on Saturday, have three games in hand over the Shrimps. If they win them all, they will be just one point below Morecambe.