And it was no more than they deserved for a hard-working, fluent team display.

They bossed the play for long spells, showing most of the decent inter-passing that was seen in the game.

It gave them only their second win on the road in the League this season, with Chester the other victims.

Morecambe had a great chance in just the second minute when Stewart Drummond's chipped pass found Michael Twiss on a great run into the box but his volley dipped just over the bar from 15 yards.

Morecambe played the neater football in the early stages and the home side resorted to a few challenges that, with a different referee, may have earned a couple of bookings.

At the other end Jack Lester hit a volley that also went over the bar after Gritton had nodded on Aaron Downes' free-kick.

Twiss was taking up a striker's position but found himself offside several times in the early stages.

Lester again had a chance turning Neil Wainwright and racing toward goal but he was denied by a great last-ditch tackle by Fraser McLachlan.

All the football was being played by Morecambe but the home side got some joy from their long ball tactics with Lester and Till feeding off Gritton's knock-downs.

Rene Howe burst into the box after 29 minutes before sliding the ball back to McLachlan but the midfielder couldn't control his shot and the chance went begging.

Then Adam Yates robbed the ball on the right flank and cut it back for Twiss to blast over when he may have been better leaving it for Howe behind him in a better position.

Morecambe were enjoying much the better of things with the home crowd starting to despair of their side's hoof-ball approach.

Howe cut a decent ball back but again it was McLachlen running onto it and he stood on the ball instead of finding a shot. It was picked up by Jamie Lowry who launched an attack that was ended by a clearing header from Dave Artell.

As half-time approached, Lowry went on another run after a Morecambe attack broke down, this time screwing his shot a foot wide of the post.

The last action of the half saw Howe hit a shot from the edge of the box that struck Twiss who again had strayed offside in the box.

Chesterfield came out fired up after the break and should have scored with their first attack when Lowry swung a ball to the far post for Gritton to head back across goal but no-one could get there quickly enough to turn it in.

But there was no such slackness at the other end after 54 minutes.

A free-kick from Craig Stanley was cleared out to Twiss who turned his man before laying it back to Stanley to clip over a cross that Howe turned into the net with a diving header to give Morecambe a lead that was deserved, even if it came slightly against the run of play.

That sent the home fans into chants of 'Rico out' that were halted after just a couple of minutes when a breakaway attack delivered the ball to Gritton who struck it cleanly into the bottom corner of the net to equalise from 20 yards.

But Morecambe were back in the lead with a really well-worked goal which started with a superb ball from Howe that put Wainwright free down the left. His deep cross was met by a stunning side-footed volley from Stanley to make it 2-1 to the visitors after 65 minutes.

Tommy Lee had to get down well to save when Twiss pounced on a misjudgment by Downes to race into the box and shoot low.

Sub Matty Blinkhorn could have sealed the win with a third near the end but he blasted his shot over after Stanley had put him in behind the home defence.

But despite the miss, Morecambe were good value for the victory that their better football fully merited.

Stewart Drummond returned to the Morecambe side as they maintained the record of never having lost to Chesterfield.

The Shrimps earned a famous FA Cup win at Saltergate as a non-league side and drew last season's two League Two games against the Spireites.

Drummond's return allowed Michael Twiss to push forward as Aaron Taylor dropped to the bench.

Chesterfield went into the match with without Jamie Ward after the striker agreed a deal with Sheffield United on Monday.

Ward, who was the League Two top scorer with 14 league goals, has moved for a fee of £330,000, rising to £400,000.

Chesterfield boss Lee Richardson has been active in the transfer window, bringing in striker Martin Gritton from Macclesfield.
Gritton made his debut in the 3-1 win at Chester last weekened, coming off the bench to score the final goal.

Another signing for the Spireites is attacking midfielder Peter Till, who has signed on loan from Grimsby and is well known to the Shrimps from their clashes with the Mariners.

With Ward's departure, Jack Lester takes the mantle of club leading scorer with nine goals from his 17 games. He returned to the side at Chester after serving a suspension.

Chesterfield: Lee, Robertson, Lowry, Austin (Harsley 74), Gritton, Lester, Winter (Goodall 74), Hall, Downes, Gray (Currie 45), Till. Subs: Boden, Askham. Booked: Winter, Downes.

Morecambe: Roche, Yates, Bentley, Artell, Adams, Wainwright, Drummond, McLachlan, Stanley, Twiss (Blinkhorn 80), Howe. Subs: Davies, Hunter, O'Carroll, Taylor.