Nicky Law's late winner helped Exeter City to a 3-2 win over Morecambe at the Globe Arena in Sky Bet League Two.
City took a two-goal lead through Jake Taylor and Lee Martin before the home side rallied to draw level with two goals from substitute Lewis Alessandra, but Law was on hand to finish in the 85th minute to secure the win.
Manager Matt Taylor made just two changes to the starting XI following the 0-0 draw with Oldham as captain Taylor made a return from injury, as did Randell Williams, with the Grecians looking to build on their positive start to the season.
The game struggled for any rhythm for the opening 20 minutes with neither side able to carve out any sort of chance to test either goalkeeper.
In fact, it was City’s first meaningful attack which saw them take the lead on 21 minutes. After Lewis Ward cleared well from a Morecambe attack, the ball was play in-field to Nicky Law, who then played a wonderful ball out to Lee Martin with the outside of his boot before the City number seven pulled the ball back for Taylor to side foot home to give City the advantage.
Matt Taylor’s men then doubled their lead just a couple of minutes later when Law did well to thread the ball through to Taylor before the City captain was tackled in the area, but Lee Martin was on hand to pick up the loose ball and fire home from close range.
Scintillating play from the Grecians saw them almost go three-up on 29 minutes when Williams beat his marker out on the right before he found the onrushing Law, who then burst forward and shot, but for a good save from Barry Roche with his legs.
City thought they’d added a third just seconds before half-time when Dean Moxey latched onto Williams’ corner before Lee Martin turned the ball over the line, but for the offside flag as City looked to further their lead.
But the Grecians were dealt a blow when the Shrimps pulled a goal back just seconds before half-time when substitute Lewis Alessandra picked up possession on the edge of the City box before firing in off the crossbar to make the score 2-1 going into half-time.
Cole Stockton had the first chance of the second period as Morecambe looked to build some momentum that they gathered towards the end of the first half.
After the ball was played into Stockton just inside the City box, the Morecambe man shot first time but was unable to keep his effort on target.
The home side continued to look for a way back into the game and they drew level just after the hour mark when some patient play saw the ball eventually played forward before Stockton found the goal scorer to finish well despite an onrushing Ward.
Both sides continued to look for a winner, and the Grecians had Archie Collins to thank when the home side broke from a City corner. After working the ball well, John O’Sullivan shot from just outside the box, but for a brave block from Collins.
But it was City who would find the next goal in the 85th minute when the ball was recycled from a cross from the right before Law picked it up on the left in the Morecambe box and finished well with his left foot to put City back ahead.
But a resilient Morecambe side continued to look for a way back into the game and in a bit of a scramble on the edge of the box, the ball fell to Andrew Tutte who fired a fierce effort at goal, but for a wonderful block from Aaron Martin with his head as City took a hard earned three points back to Devon.
Morecambe: Roche, Buxton (Alessandra, 31), Old (Ellison, 89), Tutte, O’Sullivan, Stockton (Leitch-Smith, 67), Sutton, Brewitt, Lavelle, Miller, Cranston
Subs not used: Halstead, Wildig, Oates, Brownsword
Booked:
Sent off: Lavelle
Exeter City: Ward, Sweeney, A. Martin, L. Martin (Fisher, 80), Law, Williams (Richardson, 83), Bowman, Moxey, Sparkes (Parkes, 86), Taylor, Collins
Subs not used: Maxted, Woodman, Ajose, Jay
Booked: Taylor
Attendance: 1,517 (Inc, 144, away)