Shrimps captain Jim Bentley struck in the 23rd minute at Edgar Street when he headed a cross from Simon Hackney past goalkeeper Adam Bartlett from close range at the far post.

Striker Phil Jevons, however, missed a gilt-edged chance to put the Shrimps further in front when he scuffed the ball wide of an empty goalmouth after a shot from Mark Duffy had rebounded off the post.

At the other end, Morecambe goalkeeper Barry Roche made two fine saves to deny Hereford strikers Marc Pugh and Leon Constantine, while Duffy fired a rising 30-yard shot over the Hereford crossbar just before the break.

Straight after the break a snapshot from Hackney just cleared the target while down at the other end Roche made another good stop to deny Pugh. Hereford substitute Mathieu Manset and Constantine also attempted long-range drives but both went well off target.

Morecambe’s Emanuel Panther however was inches off target with a thunderous 30-yard drive, but the Shrimps deserved their win against a Hereford side who look like being dragged into the dogfight at the bottom of the table.