Morecambe had to come from behind twice in a game that both sides will feel they could have won. Morecambe enjoyed the greater share of the possession but Exeter always looked the more lively going forward with young striker Jamie Mackie a constant thorn in the side of the Morecambe defence.
It was Mackie who opened the scoring with the game less than a minute old with a goal that shocked the Shrimps. A long punt from Exeter keeper Martin Rice was flicked on and Mackie spotted the danger quickly, latching on to the loose ball by nipping in between goalkeeper and defenders before rounding Steven Drench and placing the ball into the empty net.
It was to prove the spark for an entertaining afternoon.
Morecambe played the ball around neatly and came close to a quick fire equaliser when Fraser McLachlan's downward header from a Michael Twiss's corner beat Rice but was cleared off the line by Paul Buckle.
The Shrimps continued to press with Ged Brannan close to poking home a dangerous Michael Howard free kick and Adam Yates stabbing the loose ball wide from close range after Rice had made a sharp reflex save from a long range Stanley effort which took a wicked deflection.
The home side were rewarded for their persistence seven minutes from the break from another free kick. Brannan floated the ball into the area and although Chris Blackburn's header was beaten away the ball fell neatly for Danny Carlton who hammered home his fourth goal of the season from 10 yards out.
Morecambe were the first to threaten in the second period with Danny Meadowcroft directing a header over the bar from a Carlton corner before the visitors took the lead for a second time.
Mackie was again the destroyer with a searing run from the left hand side. He breezed past Brannan before producing a shot which Drench could only parry into the path of Adam Stansfield who bundled the ball home from six yards out.
The Morecambe keeper was then forced to make a fine save low to his right from Lee Phillips after another neat Mackie lay off before Chris Blackburn made a diving goal line clearance from Mackie who thought he had secured the three points for the Grecians.
That proved to be a turning point as Morecambe stormed back into the game with Stanley's superb strike which beat an unsighted Rice low to his left.
The Shrimps then went in search of the winner with Rice making a fine double save from Carlton and then David Perkins before Lee Phillips wasted a glorious late opportunity at the other end to stab the ball wide of the left hand post with only Drench to beat.