MORECAMBE can look forward to the LDV Vans Trophy next season after claiming sixth spot in their league.

A closing day victory over Doncaster Rovers was enough to secure the Shrimps a spot in the knockout competition for clubs in the lower leagues, which now features the top eight in the conference.

And next season could be even more exciting; with the likelihood increasing that third division clubs will accept a second automatic promotion place from the conference.

The Football Association has concluded a deal with third division clubs which will see relegates sides given a ' parachute payment' for dropping out of the league.

The proposal must be approved by a full meeting of the football league clubs.

If the proposals get the go ahead, the second automatic slot is likely to be decided by a play-off system, meaning more end of season excitement for the clubs finishing between second and fifth place.

In Saturday's action, Morecambe made the perfect start against big spending Doncaster Rovers at Christie Park.

Rovers, who lined up without Morecambe old boy Justin Jackson, went behind on four minutes when a Dave Perkins corner was turned past Andy Warrington by the head of Stewart Drummond.

Morecambe's biggest league crowd of the season, boosted by schoolchildren given free tickets as part of the Shrimps' community work, were disappointed 10 minutes before the break when a piece of head tennis in the box set up Tristran Whitman to equalise.

However, Morecambe got their noses in front again four minutes after the break.

Ian Arnold had become increasingly influential in Morecambe's run-in to the end of the season and he broke the deadlock.

Receiving the ball on the edge of the area, Arnold turned sharply and fired the ball past Warrington to end the season in style.

That followed a Thursday night draw with Farnborough Town, who, despite having two players sent off, managed to cling on for a share of the points.