BRAVE Harrogate Railway's FA Cup adventure is over, after a cruel injury time strike derailed their assault on the first round proper.

Morecambe's Wayne Curtis bundled home a cross 93 minutes and 40 seconds into an enthralling tie, which saw Railway more than hold their own against the Nationwide Conference side.

A large crowd turned out at Station View for the seventh game in this year's cup campaign and the biggest in the club's history.

And the North East Counties side did not disappoint despite their 3-2 defeat

Boss Paul Marshall was left "absolutely gutted" after his side belied their lowly league position to produce an outstanding display that took Morecambe to the wire.

The Lancashire side, cup giant-killers in their own right, had started brightly striking the bar after just 90 seconds.

In the follow-up Railway's Steve Hartley made his only mistake of a confident display giving away a free-kick near the corner flag.

Just three minutes in and ex-Crewe and Wigan centre-back Chris Lightfoot stepped up to power home the first of his two headed goals from a yard.

But the 500 travelling fans' chant of "Who are you" proved ill-conceived as Railway fought back with the lively and impressive striker Steve Davey banging in a first class drive just eight minutes later.

And it was his magnificent turn on the edge of the box and delivery that allowed Ian Hart to smash home a low shot from 15 yards to give Railway the lead after 20 minutes.

But it was Lightfoot again who clawed Morecambe, beaten by Ipswich in last season's competition, back into the game with another powerful header ten minutes before the break.

Fatigue, fear of defeat and the wickedly sloping pitch let the game descend into traditional cup-tie format in the second-half, with only scrappy play, few chances and the odd yellow card on offer.

But with the crowd baying for victory, Harrogate gained a burst of energy in the last ten minutes with first Davey, and then substitute Kevin Smith going close.

But a debatable free-kick given deep into injury-time led to the cross and finish that knocked the steam out of Railway.

"It is devastating, absolutely devastating. I fancied the mover at Morecambe, we were the better side at times," said a near-tearful Marshall afterwards.

"But I'm proud of each and every one of the boys, they have really showed what they are made of."

Harrogate Railway: Montgomery, Watkinson, Mclean (Njie 82), Tye, Hartley, Walker, Danby, Davey, Wright, Hart (Smith, 64), Gore. Subs (not used): Wilson, Jones, Old.

Morecambe: Mawson, Fensome, Colkin, Lightfoot, Hardiker, Drummond, Rigoglisio (Black 48), Gouck, Talbot (Norman, 87), Arnold, Thompson (Curtis, 61). Subs (not used): McGuire, Willcock.

Referee: David Naylor (Sutton-in-Ashfield)

Updated: 09:21 Monday, October 29, 2001