Although the result means the Shrimps can now not mathematically make the play-offs, Sammy McIlroy will be pleased with how his side responded to the defeat at Rotherham in midweek.

Morecambe gave themselves a great start after just eight minutes when Bertie Cozic was booked for a foul on Stewart Drummond.

Michael Twiss took the resultant free-kick and found the head of Drummond who glanced an accurate header past Paul Jones to give the visitors the lead.

Twiss himself had a great chance to make it two when Dave Artell nodded down a Danny Adams free kick to the edge of the box but his shot was sliced well wide.

And The Shrimps had another great chance when Diarmuid O'Carroll flicked a header from an Adams cross to Dave Artell who snatched at his shot and hit it wide from 10 yards.

Morecambe could have been three goals up before Exeter had their first chance.

And that came after 37 minutes when Cozic picked up a poor clearance from Mark Duffy but screwed his shot well wide.

However, the game turned towards the home side soon after the break as Exeter notched two goals to take the lead.

Dean Moxey was the first on target in the 49th minute as he took the ball around Morecambe keeper Barry Roche to make it 1-1.

And then four minutes after that, Ryan Harley cut in from the left and blasted Exeter ahead.

But that amazing spirit that the Shrimps have shown over and over this season cam to the fore again as Twiss and Drummond combined once more, the latter diverting a free-kick home in the 79th minute to earn a point.

The game saw the return of Matty Blinkhorn to the first team after injury, the striker coming off the bench to feature.

Fraser McLachlan and Wayne Curtis returned to Morecambe's line-up as they travelled to high-flying Exeter looking to keep their very slim hopes of a play-off position alive.

Rene Howe and Gary Hunter were missing from the team that faced Rotherham on Tuesday night.

For their part Exeter were looking to secure automatic promotion to League One and a near 9,000 crowd was expected.

Exeter City: Jones, Gill, Taylor, Harley, mcAllister, Cozic, Edwards, Moxey, Sercombe, Archibald-Henville, Fleetwood. Subs Marriott, Tully, Seaborne, Panther, Logan. Booking: Cozic.

Morecambe: Roche, Yates, Artell, Bentley, Adams, Duffy, McLachlan, Drummond, Curtis, Twiss, O'Carroll. Subs. Davies, Blinkhorn, Parrish, McStay, Bell.