Morecambe 0 Carlisle United 2: Jamie Devitt and Jack Sowerby struck superb goals at Morecambe to give Carlisle a fifth straight win as Jason Kennedy made his long-awaited return to action.

Devitt scored against his former club after 15 minutes with Sowerby finding the net on 76 minutes, wrapping up the points that sent John Sheridan's side seventh in League Two.

The game also saw midfielder Kennedy back on the pitch as an injury-time sub - his first appearance for 441 days after his return from a long-term pelvis injury.

It also saw Carlisle cope with the loss of Jerry Yates, who was recalled by parent club Rotherham on the eve of the game.

Devitt marked New Year's Day with another great goal for his collection, receiving a throw-in over his shoulder and sending his shot in off the crossbar past Morecambe keeper Mark Halstead.

That sparked jubilant scenes in a packed away end, with 1,784 Blues fans in a 3,749 crowd at the Globe Arena.

Morecambe had earlier carved a first-minute chance which Vadaine Oliver failed to take, Anthony Gerrard then denying the striker before Devitt struck at the other end.

Some Blues fans spilled from the away end and onto the perimeter as they celebrated, one making it onto the pitch.

Stewards tried to restore order as a banner, referencing a recent tweet by chief executive Nigel Clibbens, was then unveiled in the away terrace.

On the pitch, Kelvin Etuhu had a shot blocked before one foul too many saw the midfielder booked.

Jordan Cranston tested Adam Collin from 25 yards and an offside flag denied veteran Kevin Ellison as he went clean through, Collin also saving the 39-year-old's finish.

Tom Parkes headed a Devitt corner over the bar in the final seconds of the first half.

Morecambe applied some pressure after the break with Carlos Mendes-Gomes testing Collin.

But the Shrimps failed to seriously examine the Blues keeper and United then made victory safe when Sowerby turned onto a throw and found the top corner with a great finish.

Ashley Nadesan and Hallam Hope almost added a third before Kennedy's arrival, for Sowerby, brought cheers from the packed away end. 

Macaulay Gillesphey came into the Carlisle side for their first game of 2019 in the absence of Yates.

Morecambe: Halstead, Mills, Conlan, Old, Lavelle, Kenyon (Tutte 66), Mendes-Gomes (Mandeville 82), Cranston, Ellison, Oates (Leitch-Smith 66) Oliver. Subs: Szczepanik, Oswell, Yarney, Hedley.

United: Collin, Gillesphey (Bennett 83), Liddle, Gerrard, Parkes, Grainger, Sowerby (Kennedy 90), Etuhu, Devitt (Slater 82), Hope, Nadesan. Subs: Gray, Miller, Jones, McCarron.