Darlington 1 Exeter City 1.

League 2
Saturday 9 August 2008

Jim Shepherd reports from the Balfour Webnet Darlington Arena. 

Danny Seaborne headed an equaliser on the hour to give City a thoroughly deserved draw on their return to the Football League. Outplayed in the first half, the Grecians more then matched their hosts after the interval to ensure they left the impressive Darlington Arena with a point. The omens didn't look good as Darlington seized the early initiative. On 3 minutes a rasping drive crashed back off the Exeter bar with Darlington failing to punish from the rebound. As the half progressed it was Paul Jones who was the busier of the keepers as the home side tried to apply the pressure. He was brought into action several times, mostly to save shots from distance, as Darlington pressed City into their own half. It was not entirely one way traffic though as firstly Richard Logan headed a Ryan Harley free kick wide, then Matt Taylor could only match that effort from a corner. But Darlington were playing the more attractive football and on 39 minutes they got their reward. A neat, crisp passing move saw the ball played into the penalty area. George Friend attempted to cut the ball out but only succeeded in upending a Darlington forward. Referee Salisbury had no hesitation in giving a penalty and Rob Purdie dispatched it with aplomb down the middle as Jones dived to his left. The last action of an otherwise cagey first half saw a Marcus Stewart header flash wide after Darlington failed to clear a dangerous ball in. But City had not really threatened and, after a minute of added time, the half time whistle went with City in arrears. Being one goal down to a side in the play offs the previous season did not seem to upset City or their 600 fans amongst the 3,559 present,

They started the second period positively and within 5 minutes Logan had just failed to reach the ball as Matt Gill's cross was scrambled away, and then Gill had a drive from distance blocked as Adam Stansfield pulled a ball back to him. Harley also put a chance wide as Logan picked up a loose ball from a City free kick before Stewart, making his City league debut, had a looping header saved as he pounced on a half cleared cross on the edge of the box. And then came City's moment. Friend drove into the Darlington half and was fouled 30 yards from goal. Rob Edwards floated the free kick to the far post where Seaborne rose and beat his marker to butt the ball inside the near post for the equaliser. But far from being satisfied at being on level terms City tried to press home their second half superiority. Logan and Harley released Friend whose cross was caught by Brown in the home goal. Then a beautifully timed Stansfield run saw his cross flicked away from the onrushing Stewart as City's pressure was mounting. With 20 minutes to go Darlington made a double substitution swapping Proudlock and Ravenhill for Blundell and Hulbert. Within 3 minutes they were forced into their last change as Fortune was withdrawn injured to be replaced by Neil Austin. But this had little effect on the flow of play. City continued to press. Harley was getting greater accuracy with his corners, then drove a shot from 25 yards handsomely high and wide. Logan was involved all afternoon and set up Gill who shot weakly, then scuffed a shot wide after the impressive Stansfield had outfought his marker to win the ball on the edge of the area. The final 5 minutes saw Darlington trying to regain the upper hand and as 3 additional minutes were signalled Seaborne was strong to clear a dangerous free kick. The final action saw Darlington shoot meekly wide as City failed to fully clear a free kick. So definitely a point gained against a side predicted to be at the business end of the table come May. But the quality of City's passing, especially in the second half will leave many a League 2 side wondering what they might come up against. The starting 11 was also the finishing 11 and they fully deserved the rousing reception from the away end as the whistle blew at the end of the game. Maybe City didn't press the home goal as much as they would have liked but a point from this game was a worthy effort.


BBC match summary and information 

Exeter marked their return to the Football League after a five-year absence with a draw at Darlington. The hosts began well and Jason Kennedy hit the bar before City keeper Paul Jones denied Billy Clarke three times. They went ahead when George Friend fouled Clarke and Rob Purdie scored from the spot just before half-time. Marcus Stewart headed wide for the visitors as they fought back and defender Dan Seaborne earned them a point with a far-post header.

Darlington: Brown, Purdie, White, Foster, Fortune (Austin 71), Poole, Kennedy, Ravenhill (Hulbert 69), Griffin, Proudlock (Blundell 69), Clarke.

Subs Not Used: Kazimierczak, Miller.

Goals: Purdie 40 pen.

Exeter: Jones, Tully, Seaborne, Matthew Taylor, Friend, Gill, Edwards, Harley, Stansfield, Stewart, Logan.
Subs Not Used: Marriott, Panther, McAllister, Basham, Sercombe.

Goals: Seaborne 60.

Attendance. 3,559 with 604 City fans.

Referee : Graham Salisbury (Lancashire).