Macclesfield Town manager David Moss backed his mistake-prone keeper Steve Wilson despite another howler that cost his side a much needed win.
He said: "It is a mistake that could come back to haunt us at the end of the season. However Steve has been magnificent all year and will be in the side for the next game." Moss' opposite number Neil McNab was sympathetic: "I feel sorry for David Moss he is one of the great gentlemen of the game and I really hope his side is not relegated.
"It was a less than average game and Macclesfield were slightly better. But all credit to our lads even with ten men we kept going to the end." The crucial moment of the encounter came with the last kick, a soft shot from Sean Devine spilling through the hands of the forlorn Wilson.
Macclesfield had taken the lead in the 57th minute when former Manchester United apprentice Danny Whitaker scored at the second attempt to bag his 11th goal of the season.
Both sides had chances in the first half, Steve Flack heading over the bar in the eighth minute and Devine forcing two excellent saves from Wilson as Exeter pressed.
Whitaker, rated at £500,000 by the Cheshire club, forced Kevin Miller into a full-length save with a looping header in the 41st minute.
Flack was sent off in the 87th minute for lashing out at his marker Steve Macauley, but whether through grace or judgment the ten men were still able to rescue a point.