SATURDAY 12th AUGUST 1995

DIVISION 3

EXETER CITY 0 DARLINGTON 1.

After the traumas of the previous months, it was just simply terrilis to be able to watch Exeter City take their place in the Endsleigh League again something which had at one time looked unlikely.

Although the Grecians eventually lost this opening game of the season, they did however, produce several positive things which player manager Peter Fox and his assistant Noel Blake would undoubtedly work on. Indeed, until the sending off of striker Robbie Turner just before the interval, 2 was looking increasingly likely that the City would pull back the one gcal deficit. Once Turner went off though, it was always going to be an uphill battle.

Darlington took the lead after just seven minutes through former City midfielder Paul Olsson. He beat the City offside trap and planted a shot past the advancing Fex Darlington always threatened down the right with new signing Pedro Paulo from Benfica showing a good deal of trickery and directness.

City finished the first half the strongest and had a couple of chances te equalise. Turner had a shot well blocked by keeper ke debutant Mark Pollitt and debutant Chamberlain put his effort into the side netting.

Not surprisingly, with a man advantage, Darlington enjoyed long periods of possession in the second half, with Exeter having to make the most of the few breaks they got. Martin Phillips did get the ball into the net after a good run and cross by Mike Cecere, but it was a disappointing afternoon for the supporters who gave tremendous backing to the team all through the game. They will have gane away however, encouraged by a performance far better than those that they had to endure towards the end of last season

Teams:

EXETER CITY: Peter Fox, Neil Parsley, Colin Anderson, Mark Cooper Noel Blake Jon Richardson, Mark Chamberlain, Danny Bailey, Robbie Turner, Mike Cecere, Martin Phillips (Mark Gavin 63).

DARLINGTON: Michael Pollitt, Matthew Appleby, Simon Shaw, Steve Gaughan, Andy Crosby, Sean Gregan, Pedro Paulo (Gary Himsworth 71st), Paul Olsson. Gary Bannister (Gavin Worboys 74th), Mark Blake, Ian Carss (lan Rumwell 90th) 

Scorer: Darlington: Olsson.

Referee: Alan Wiley (Walsall).

Attendance: 2,934.