Morecambe's place in the National League hangs in the balance after they were held by Carlisle United.
Starting the day six points from safety, Jim Bentley's side needed a win and other results to go their way.
Neither happened as Carlisle showed why they are sat in third whilst Eastleigh beat Yeovil Town in their clash.
Things began brightly for The Shrimps though when winger Gwion Edwards rifled home an opener following a throw-in just over thirty minutes in.
Morecambe looked to better of the two sides, holding their lead into the break, but just three minutes into the second-half, Carlisle equalised courtesy of Regan Linney's driven shot.
Momentum on their side, Carlisle exerted themselves over the hosts and dealt Morecambe's survival hopes a blow when David Ajiboye weaved his way into the box and beat keeper Myles Boney to put his side ahead.
The hosts bounced back with just under ten minutes to go as Harvey Macadam turned a header into his own goal.
As the clock ticked, Morecambe tried to break through, but to no avail as Carlisle held firm to leave the Mazuma Stadium with a point in hand.
A result which will not have a significant impact on their season whilst perhaps being defining for Morecambe.
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The Lancashire side now sit eight points behind Eastleigh, whose win today puts Morecambe is serious danger with only three games remaining.
A trip to Jermain Defoe's Woking awaits manager Bentley, who will know just how slim his team's chances of pulling off a remarkable survival story are.
Line-ups:
Morecambe: Boney, Jameson, Dean, Hogan, Edwards (Conte 90), Azeez, Songo'o (c) (Thomas 64), Lewis (Ogwuru 75), Payne, Popov (Tollitt 75), Nolan.
Goals: Edwards (32), Macadam O.G. (82)
Booked: Lewis, Azeez
Carlisle United: Breeze, Galvin, Thomas, Feeney (c), Ellis, Gilliead (Davies 25), Macadam, Linney (Yeboah 90), Wearne (Whelan 90), Ajiboye, Kelly (Wyke 71)
Goals: Linney (48), Ajiboye (68)
Booked: Galvin, Wyke
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