Fine point for Shrimps
MORECAMBE produced a solid performance to pick up a point at St James's Park.
The Shrimps came from behind and survived an injury time penalty scare when referee Andy D’Urso changed his mind after originally awarding the home side a spot kick.
It was a decision that led to a scuffle at the end of the game and the joy of the penalty decision was soured by the sending off of Jamie Devitt who saw a straight red card.
Exeter had the better of the early play and took the lead in the second minute through Tom Nichols. The Morecambe defence failed to deal with an Exeter attack down the left and the ball fell to Nichols 12 yards out who had far too much time to pick his spot and fire past Barry Roche.
The home side continued to look the sharper and they created a number of half chances against a sluggish Shrimps.
Morecambe keeper Roche had to be at his best to hold on to an effort from Mat Grimes and then palmed away a stinging long range effort from Eliot Richards.
Morecambe had a brief spell on top themselves with Jack Sampson almost found by Jamie Devitt’s excellent ball and Padraig Amond drilling a shot well wide from an acute angle when he should have done better.
The half ended with Exeter forcing the pace again with Aaron Davies heading over and testing Roche again with a curling shot that the keeper tipped over at the second attempt.
The Shrimps looked sharper in the second period and came from behind to take the point with Padraig Amond scoring a fine goal on 53 minutes.
Devitt provided the through ball and Amond produced a fine low finish to beat home keeper Christy Pym
Amond almost grabbed a winner on 75 minutes when he created space for himself in the box but saw his shot cleared off the line by Scott Bennett.
EXETER: Pym; Butterfield, Bennett, Coles, Woodman, Sercombe, Grimes, Oakley (rep Gill 79), Davies (rep Wheeler 60), Richards, Nichols (rep O’Flynn 79). Subs not used: Hamon, Moore-Taylor, Keohane, Parkin.
MORECAMBE: Roche; Parrish, McCready (rep McGee 64), Hughes, Threlfall, Fleming, Wright, Williams (rep Drummond 64), Devitt, Sampson (rep Ellison 79), Amond. Subs not used: Arestidou, Diagne, Doyle, Redshaw.
Ref: A D’Urso.
Att: 2,620.