But again it was the problem of conceding early and late goals which set the tone for the Spireites.

Stewart Drummond fired home a neat angled drive with just six minutes on the clock at Christie Park. With just one first-half goal from them this season, Chesterfield bucked the trend and responded immediately.

The impressive Darren Currie provided the first of many quality crosses and found Gregor Robertson at the far post who side-footed home from close range to level things up and notch his first strike since he scored at Mansfield a year ago.

And on 20 minutes, Chesterfield edged 2-1 ahead. Jack Lester jinked close to goal and was needlessly upended by Morecambe skipper Jim Bentley inside the penalty area.

From the resultant spot kick it was left to Jamie Ward to dispatch the ball past ex-Spireite 'keeper Barry Roche.

Chesterfield were good for the interval lead and the second half could have seen them extend their one-goal cushion with Ward and Lester both spurning good chances.

Morecambe boss Sammy McIlroy's final substitution proved to be decisive - he brought on teenager Aaron Taylor for his first Morecambe appearance in the league when he replaced the impressive Michael Twiss on 79 minutes.

And the Morecambe-born striker was in the thick of the action immediately, claiming a fould inside the area. If that warning wasn't enough for Chesterfield, he popped up in the area with five minutes left and flicked Wayne Curtis' throw-in again a post before Howe bundled the rebound into the net to level it at 2-2.

Chesterfield: Carson, Picken, Austin, Downes, Goodall, Currie (Harsley 65), Niven, Luke Boden (Winter 83), Robertson, Lester, Ward. Subs Not Used: Hall, Scott Boden, Teixeira.

Attendance: 1,734 (249 from Chesterfield)