VETERAN Kevin Ellison’s knack of causing Newport County AFC sides pain continued at the Globe Arena today, with the striker’s brace sealing a 2-1 win for the hosts.

The 38-year-old Ellison netted once in each half, the second a lucky deflection, to condemn the Exiles to their second League Two loss of the season.

County had levelled through Scot Bennett two minutes after Ellison put the Shrimps in front.

Ben Tozer for Sean Rigg was the only change to the County starting XI line-up from the midweek defeat of Cheltenham.

David Pipe continued as skipper with Joss Labadie still out injured.

Mark O’Brien remained on the sidelines but Shawn McCoulsky was back to take a place on the bench.

It was a fairly low-key opening with a Tom Owen-Evans header going over the bar the first real chance of the game after seven minutes.

Soon after, and with the travelling support in full voice, Matt Dolan whipped a free-kick into the box from the right wing which evaded everybody and went just past the far post.

The Shrimps took their time to get going and it was Adam McGurk who created their first opportunity, cutting inside onto his left foot and firing a shot towards goal that Joe Day parried.

The deadlock came closer to being broken two minutes later when, at the other end, Mickey Demetriou’s long throw was flicked on by Frank Nouble and Tozer’s header clipped the crossbar.

It was from that point on that the match moved up a gear or two and County came under some concerted pressure.

Shrimps skipper Alex Kenyon should probably have scored just after the half-hour mark.

A corner was headed back across goal by Old and, from point-blank range, Kenyon directed his header wide.

However, the home fans didn’t have long to wait for their side to break the deadlock.

An Elliot Osborne drive deflected off the boot of Ben White and forced Day into a good save low down.

But Day could only push the ball into the path of Ellison and the veteran striker slid his shot into the far corner.

County’s supporters were on their feet within two minutes though.

A corner, won by Owen-Evans, found its way to Demetriou at the back post and his ball into the six-yard box was turned home by Bennett.

Ellison then thought his side should have been awarded a penalty.

He argued with referee Darren Drysdale that Pipe had used a hand to block his shot, but the official was having none of it.

Dolan, who had earlier required treatment for a bloody nose, was replaced by Rigg for the second half as County boss Michael Flynn looked to inject a bit more of a cutting edge going forward.

The substitute got into proceedings straight away, setting Nouble free down the left.

The August player of the month turned his man one way then the other and saw his cross drift agonisingly wide of the far post.

He used the same piece of skill 10 minutes into the second half and, after Morecambe had applied pressure at the other end, on this occasion he flashed a shot just off target.

Morecambe then tried their luck, with Ellison and McGurk linking up before Aaron Wildig screwed his attempt well wide.

That man Ellison was involved again, forcing Day into a save with a volley, and then the County gloveman produced the stop of the match.

McGurk met a Garry Thompson cross and Day, diving to his left, pushed the striker’s header away with one hand.

Lamar Reynolds returned to action from the bench when he replaced Owen-Evans on 66 minutes.

Goal scorer Bennett was everywhere for County and one of his surging runs nearly proved profitable.

At the other end, Ellison couldn’t keep a header from eight yards down, before Rigg and Reynolds saw shots blocked and go wide.

Ellison wasn’t done, although he knew very little about his second goal of the afternoon.

Substitute Adam Campbell took aim from the corner of the box and the ball deflected off Ellison and beyond a static Day.

Flynn tried one last throw of the dice, bringing on McCoulsky for Bennett, but County couldn’t rescue a point.

Morecambe: Roche, McGowan, Old, Müller, Brough, Kenyon (capt), Osborne (Rose 59), Thompson, Wildig (Thompson 76), Ellison, McGurk.

Subs not used: Fleming, Nizic, Lavelle, Lund, Lang.

Bookings: McGurk, McGowan County: Day, Pipe (capt), Bennett (McCoulsky 83), White, Demetriou, Butler, Dolan (Rigg 45), Tozer, Owen-Evans (Reynolds 66), Amond, Nouble.

Subs not used: Willmott, Quigley, Bittner, Jahraldo-Martin.

Bookings: Demetriou

Referee: Darren Drysdale

Attendance: 1,189 (157 County fans)

Argus star man: Scot Bennett