MORECAMBE'S Football League hopes were rocked at Exeter City on Saturday as the Shrimps misfired and lost 1-0 to their play-off rivals.

The defeat was hard to take for Morecambe's travelling fans - especially as it was a second loss on the spin following hot on the heels of Tuesday's shock Christie Park defeat to Altrincham.

And while it certainly isn't critical at this stage, Morecambe need to get back on track quickly in order to prevent a season that promises much from fading away tamely.

Boss Sammy McIlroy axed Adam Yates and Danny Carlton, with Chris Blackburn in at right back and the recalled David McNiven starting up front, but neither man made an early impact as the two sides checked each other out.

A swirling wind made life difficult for the players - but the game endured a dire start with neither side creating anything close to an attempt on target in the opening 20 minutes, although McNiven flashed a long-range effort wide.

Billy Jones was off target for the Grecians and ex-Shrimp Lee Elam also lost his radar when he headed wide before Steven Drench got down well to keep the scores level.

Wayne Carlisle did well to find Lee Phillips and he laid back into the path of Jon Challinor. It looked like a goal until Drench, going full stretch, tipped the ball to safety.

That was the highlight of a dour first period but Exeter were brighter than the Shrimps after the break and Phillips headed wide before Carlisle's header was straight at Drench.

The keeper saved well again from Phillips, while Jamie Burns was off target in a rare Morecambe raid but the game was settled with a moment of brilliance 16 minutes from time.

Richard Logan was quickest to react to a half-clearance and struck a corking volley from some 25 yards that gave Drench no chance at all.

It was a lovely strike - but Morecambe believed Blackburn had been fouled in the build-up to the goal and McIlroy protested long and hard to the officials afterwards.

The goal stunned the Shrimps - but they couldn't get back into the game, although Carlton was a danger while the creativity of Burns almost opened up the Exeter defence.

But, Morecambe failed to register a single shot on target in the 90 minutes - and that misfiring needs to be addressed in time for Saturday's trip to Nigel Clough's Burton Albion.