Morecambe 1 Carlisle Utd 1: Former Carlisle man John O'Sullivan cancelled out Hallam Hope's opener as United shared the spoils with fellow strugglers Morecambe.

Hope shot the Blues in front on 47 minutes after a superb through-ball by Nathan Thomas.

But winger O'Sullivan headed the Shrimps level a minute later, and neither side could find a winner in a scrappy contest.

The draw saw Carlisle drop a place to third-bottom in League Two, still five points above their hosts who remain in bottom position.

Thomas had Carlisle's best openings in a tight first half at the Globe Arena in head coach Chris Beech's first league game in charge.

The forward came to life late in the half but saw an attempt from the right deflected wide, and moments later fired high over the bar after cutting past defenders.

They were, though, isolated openings with neither side finding much poise in the attacking third.

Morecambe's best first-half opening came on 30 minutes when Lewis Alessandra fed Wildig to the right of goal, but Adam Collin saved for United.

Earlier, Steven Old had a header blocked while Jarrad Branthwaite, recalled in a holding midfield position at the expense of Canice Carroll, had a low 30-yard attempt saved.

Mike Jones couldn't get any power on a half-chance while the hosts could not make the most of Alessandra's tricky running.

O'Sullivan had a shot deflected wide and Old put a free header over the bar late in the half as Carlisle struggled to get a handle on the game in midfield.

Hope, who was recalled along with Jon Mellish and Branthwaite, then scored in front of the 1,251 travelling fans early after the break.

He was sent clear by a pinpoint Thomas pass and finished clinically.

But United's lead was wiped out almost immediately when Alessandra got the better of Byron Webster in the box before Wildig's sliced attempt was headed home by winger O'Sullivan at the back post.

Carlisle failed to create much in a bid to get back in front, with O'Sullivan having a close-range shot blocked by Jon Mellish 20 minutes from time.

Wildig headed a good chance across the face of goal as the Shrimps looked the likelier side to grab a winner, with sub Elias Sorensen unable to make the most of a late United half-chance.

Then, in the dying seconds, Gethin Jones was caught by Luke Conlan as he crossed with United feeling they had a strong case for a penalty.

Ref Darren Handley, though, disagreed and it ended in a draw.

Jack Bridge (ankle), Jack Iredale (knee) and Harry McKirdy (knee) all missed out through injury for the Blues, with Iredale set to be out for about two weeks, Beech said.

Morecambe: Halstead, Conlan, Old, Tanner, Brewitt, Kenyon, Wildig (Miller 90), Sutton, O'Sullivan (Cranston 84), Alessandra, Stockton (Leitch-Smith 67). Not used: Da Silva Mendes, Tutte, Ellison, Brownsword.

United: Collin, G Jones, Mellish, Webster, Hayden, Branthwaite, M Jones, Scougall (Olomola 64), Thomas, Hope, Loft (Sorensen 85). Not used: Gray, Elliott, Carroll, Knight-Percival, Sagaf.

Ref: Darren Handley.

Crowd: 3,126 (1,251 Carlisle fans).