A TRIP to the table-toppers and their sloping pitch is tough enough with a full squad but Morecambe faced the impos-sible at Barnet as injuries took their toll.

And when the Shrimps were forced to play more than an hour with only 10 men it really became mission impossible at the quaint old ground.

But they chose to accept that mission and managed to take the lead in North London with half an hour to go only for Barnet to open the floodgates and register a thumping 5-1 win.

Morecambe's woes only 10 men trained in the build-up to the game and Harvey could only name four substitutes - were increased when Keiron Walmsley saw red after just 28 minutes at Underhill.

He received two yellow cards for fouls on Richard Graham and left Jim Harvey's outfit facing a massive task.

But they seemed set to frustrate Barnet, who had much of the early possession, as Adam Sollitt made good saves from Guiliano Grazioli as the Bees pressed.

It was 0-0 at the break with Morecambe relieved to reach the sanctuary of the dressing room on equal terms. And they returned after the break with a new poise as they counter-attacked.

Garry Hunter fired inches wide following good work from Michael Twiss but Sollitt was still the busier of the two goalkeepers, saving well from the livewire Grazioli again.

Shrimps stunned the home fans after 58 minutes when they took the lead as Terry McFlynn produced a master class in trickery to nip away from the home defence before firing past Ricky Millard and into the net.

However, the Morecambe joy was to be short lived as the Bees, stung by being behind, went through their gears.

When Simon King volleyed home the equaliser just two minutes later, Morecambe started to believe it was not going to be their day.

Sollitt felled Grazioli and gave ex-Sheffield Wednesday man Ian Hendon the chance to slam home a penalty before Grazioli finally made it onto the scoresheet with a quick-fire double.

First the striker crashed a close-range shot in from a tight angle after Sollitt saved his initial effort. And then he soared to head home as the heat began to take its toll on Morecambe's tired legs.

A 15-minute spell had seen Barnet score four times and they made it five in the last seconds as Nicky Bailey made sure the Bees went nap to leave Morecambe in a state of shock.

MORECAMBE: Sollitt, Black-burn, Bentley, Swan, Howard (Carlton 79), Walmsley, McFlynn, Perkins, Twiss, Hunter, Curtis. Subs not used: Rogan, Dodgson, Mahoney.