Exeter City 3 Oxford United 2.

Saturday 15 September 2001.

AS welcome, and just about deserved, as Exeter's overdue first win of the season was, it was achieved in comic and controversial fashion.

All three of City's goals owed much to lamentable defending from Oxford, with the hosts duly returning the favour twice in a match high on entertainment but bereft of quality.

The on-field antics were overshadowed by a 78th-minute touchline confrontation between Exeter manager Noel Blake and Oxford's assistant Ted McMinn, which resulted in both being sent from the dug-out by referee Trevor Parkes.

Blake had reacted angrily following Emmanuel Omoyimni's crude challenge on Chris Curran – apparent revenge for a foul by the Exeter captain a minute earlier.

Blake had to be physically restrained as he pointed his finger and squared up to McMinn, with Oxford manager Mark Wright and Grecians' coach John Cornforth also becoming involved.

Blake later left Cornforth to explain the incident as "handbags at ten paces" although, if that was the case, these particular ladies' accessories were evidently lead-lined.

Wright was less diplomatic, blaming Blake for an incident which could bring reprisals from the Football Association if referee Parkes includes it in his report.

"It was instigated from their end," said Wright. "If you ask me, Ted McMinn did nothing wrong. I was in front of it and then obviously their manager and assistant manager started causing a scene and that's why I jumped in.

"From what I saw, it was totally all one way from theirs. If someone threatens someone what are you supposed to do – step away, be a coward? I don't think so."

While testosterone was in abundant supply off the pitch, on it there was an inordinate amount of frayed nerves.

Exeter's first goal after 63 seconds stemmed from Phil Bolland's underhit backpass. Steve Flack challenged goalkeeper Ian McCaldon for the loose ball, which squirmed out for Sean McCarthy, back from a rib injury, to sidefoot into the empty net for his first Exeter goal. It was a timely confidence-booster ahead of tomorrow's visit of his former club, Plymouth Argyle.

Bolland then cleared off the line from Jay Richardson, also returning from injury, before Oxford responded with Jamie Brooks' header against the crossbar.

Brooks executed a superb equaliser two minutes later, in the 11th minute, although it owed much to a woeful clearance from 'keeper Matt Gregg, making his City debut on a month's loan from Crystal Palace. Brooks returned the ball over Gregg's head with a delightful 25-yard chip.

Both defences looked like being breached on every attack, and it was Oxford who capitulated next.

Flack was the benefactor, with a close-range header after a corner from the excellent Geoff Breslan was helped on by Alex Watson and then McCarthy.

Gregg endured two further mishaps which went unpunished, but his, and Exeter's nerves, were seemingly settled by a third goal in first-half stoppage time. Again, Oxford's defence was at fault as Flack's harmless right-wing cross slipped past goalkeeper McCaldon and three defenders, allowing Breslan to apply the far-post finish.

Both sides tightened up after the interval, and Gregg redeemed himself with a superb save from Omoyimni.

A thumping penalty from Martin Thomas following substitute Barry McConnell's ill-advised challenge on Omoyimni led to a nervy, and tempestuous, finale, with Exeter's five bookings ensuring an automatic four-figure fine to add to the possible repercussions of Blake's outburst.

Still, it was a small price to pay for a win which lifts City off the bottom.

Cornforth said: "The lads thoroughly deserved it. It's a building-block now.

"They have set themselves the standards and we need to take that into the next game."

Exeter City3
McCarthy 2, Flack 15, Breslan 45

Oxford United2
Brooks 11, Thomas 69 pen

Exeter City (4-4-2):
M Gregg; N Whitworth (B McConnell 45), A Watson, J Campbell, G Power; C Roberts, C Curran, Jay Richardson, G Breslan (A Roscoe 90); S McCarthy (K Ampadu 90), S Flack.
Substitutes (not used): A Walker (gk), M Barlow.

Bookings: Breslan 36, McCarthy 38, Flack 54, Richardson 75, Curran 77

Oxford United (3-5-2):
I McCaldon; S Guyett, P Bolland (Jon Richardson 60), W Hatswell; S Stockley, D Whitehead, D Savage (E Omoyimni 55), M Thomas, S Ricketts; J Brooks, P Gray.

Substitutes (not used): R Knight (gk), R Quinn, R Folland.

Bookings: Bolland 41, Guyett 49, Omoyimni 78

Referee: Trevor Parkes

Attendance 3268 with 688 away fans.