A Kane Hemmings penalty earned Crewe their first home league win since March as they edged out struggling Morecambe 1-0.

Hemmings’ spot-kick just before the interval and an improved second-half display gave the Railwaymen their second win of the campaign against a Shrimps side who have yet to score in the league this term and have lost all their five games 1-0.

Both sides struggled to make their mark in a first-half lacking creativity.

Morecambe mustered a tame effort from Callum Jones which the midfielder dragged well wide and Jordan Slew saw a powerful strike blocked.

Crewe were given a helping hand by defender Jamie Stott, who tugged on the shirt of Hemmings as the striker edged ahead of him on to a loose ball inside the box.

Hemmings stepped up to send Stuart Moore the wrong way with the resulting penalty in the 43rd minute.

Shortly after the restart another unforced error could have seen Morecambe level.

On-loan Aston Villa goalkeeper Filip Marschall’s heavy touch on a through-ball left Luke Hendrie sizing up the top corner, but the full-back smashed his volley wide.

Hemmings was looking for his second when he stepped up the pace and drove a low shot across the face of goal.

The veteran striker was the main attacking threat on the pitch and he forced a low save out of Moore with a free kick from the edge of the box.

Morecambe pressed hard in the closing stages and Marschall rescued Crewe with a reaction save to keep out Lee Angol’s first-time effort from inside the box before getting behind Adam Lewis’ angled drive.