Darlington 1 Exeter City 0

BY RAY SIMPSON

EXETER saw their unbeaten start to the season ended by a stoppage time goal at Feethams. It looked as if Exeter's packed defence would earn them a point, until Darlington substitute Craig Russell popped up with the winner two minutes into stoppage time. Russell was only signed on loan from Manchester City 24 hours previously. Despite the defeat, there was plenty in Exeter's performance to suggest they will still be among the promotion contenders at the end of the season. The game swung against Exeter with only three minutes left. Midfielder Chris Holloway was stretchered off with a fractured cheek bone to be replaced by Ben Worrell. Ironically it was a move during the stoppage time caused by Holloway's injury which led to the Darlington winner. Gary Himsworth crossed perfectly from the right for Marco Gabbiadini to nod the ball down into the path of Russell, who had the simple task of putting it over the line from only a yard out. There was still time for Exeter to almost equalise, but goalkeeper Andy Collett made a superb save from a fiercely driven free-kick by Rob Dewhurst. In fact, Exeter had three chances to take the lead in the first five minutes. Midfielder Jason Rees put a right foot shot wide of the post from a Chris Holloway cross after five minutes. Then, six minutes later, a forward pass by Rees found Gary Alexander racing clear of the offside trap with only Collett to beat, but he side-footed wide. On the 15-minute mark Barry McConnell broke away on the left but his right foot shot was saved by Collett at full stretch.

Darlington, who brought in several for- mer first division players during the summer, slowly got their game together with Gabbiadini finding space. The former Sunderland striker had a penalty appeal turned down after 22 minutes when he picked up a low cross and fell under a challenge from Shaun Gale, but referee John Robinson ruled it a fair tackle. Rob Dewhurst, returning to one of his former clubs, volleyed over from a right-wing corner before the interval. Darlington were forced to change their tactics in the second half because of Exeter's stubborn defending, and brought on Russell as an extra striker. His arrival proved crucial with his late strike at the time when the home attack appeared to be running out of ideas, and the crowd became frustrated.

Exeter City
Naylor, Richardson Power. Gittens Rees Holloway. Gale. Breslan. McConnell. Dewhurst. Alexander.
Substitutes: Flack (for Breslan, 73), Worrall (for Holloway, 88). Subs not
used: Blake, Speakman, Matthews.

Darlington:
Collett, Himsworth, Heckingbottom, Bennett (Russell, 45), Liddle, Reed, Gray, Atkinson, Oliver, Nogan (Carruthers, 84), Gabbiadini. Subs not used: Brumwell, Duffield, Samways.

Scorers:
Darlington - Russell, 90.

Bookings:
Darlington Reed, 57: Gabbiadini, 90;
Exeter Breslan, 44.

Referee: John Robinson (Hull)

Attendance: 5,860.

Star Man: Rob Dewhurst impressed against former club.