What had been a very open affair with plenty of attacking football, descended into a scrappy end with each side having a player sent off.

Morecambe had two chances in quick succession in the first couple of minutes when Howe crossed low but Danny Carlton couldn't connect and it was cleared for a corner.

Craig Stanley swung it in and Carlton rose to head on target but the ball was blocked on the line.

At the other end, Barry Roche had to make a fantastic save getting down to tip a shot from Ryan Lowe away from the target when the Chester striker had taken advantage of a headed pass from skipper, Paul Linwood after 11 minutes.

Stanley should have done better after 24 minutes when he was played in by Carlton but, with the keeper rushing out, he could only lift his chipped shot over the bar from 15 yards.

At the other end, Lowe was pulling the strings for Chester and Roche again had to get down well to save when the Chester man's shot was deflected and threatened to sneak inside the post.

Stanley was more accurate after 33 minutes to put Morecambe ahead.

Stewart Drummond played a throughball which Howe picked up and pushed towards the area. Carlton stepped over to leave Stanley free to guide a shot past John Danby to give the Shrimps the lead.

After the break, Carlton had the first chance, whipping in a free-kick that grazed the top of the bar.

Then Johnson screwed a shot wide after racing free into the box.

Morecambe were two-up after 56 minutes when Howe scored from the spot.
The striker had played a neat ball out to Stanley who crossed into the area.

Carlton received it with his back to goal and as he shielded it, Laurence Wilson brought him down for a clear penalty which Howe converted past the flailing hand of keeper, Danby.

As Morecambe dropped deep, Chester pulled a goal back after 61 minutes through Johnson who rose to glance a header past Roche from Wilson's deep cross.

Linwood was lucky to stay on the pitch after he went right through Carlton to give away a free-kick, having already been booked.

Carlton almost evoked memories of his fantastic strike for the Shrimps at Wembley when he picked up a precise long ball from Andy Parrish before cutting inside his marker and unleashing a drive that Danby did well to hold.

Roche made another terrific save to deny Lowe who hit a blistering shot on the run.

The game was down to ten a side after 82 minutes when Kevin Ellison saw a straight red for going over the ball to injur Fraser McLachlan.

Danny Adams got involved in the aftermath and followed him into the dressing room, having been booked a few minutes earlier for time-wasting on a throw-in.

Carlton, on a month loan back at Morecambe from Carlisle, started up front alongside Howe who made an amazing recovery from his recent hamstring injury.

Ryan McGivern also returned after his virus while Parrish came in for the injured Adam Yates. Ryan McCann is suspended after picking up his fifth booking of the season last week.

Mark Wright began his third spell as Chester manager after taking over from the sacked Simon Davies on Friday.

Morecambe: Roche; Parrish, Bentley, McStay, Adams, McGivern; Drummond, McLachlan (Artell), Stanley; Carlton, Howe (Taylor, 69). Unused Subs: Davies, Wainwright, O'Carroll.

Sent off: Adams.

Chester: Danby, James Vaughan, Linwood, Roberts, Wilson, Barry (Partridge, 61), Harris, Hughes, Ellison, Lowe, Johnson (Rutherford, 61).
Unused Subs: Kelly, McManus, Rule.


Booked: Linwood, Wilson, Partridge.

Sent off: Ellison.

Att: 1,647 (312 from Morecambe)