Immediately Mitchell made an impact, linking up with Hartridge and Stansfield down the left flank, the marauding wing back took one touched and curled a cross into the box, but Sam Nombe slightly mistimed his jump and sent the ball behind for a goal kick.

There was impact after impact for Mitchell as his next run down the left-hand side ended in a goal for the home debutant. On the opposite side Caprice found space in behind the Charlton defence and his looping cross into to the box found Mitchell lurking and he did what was needed and smashed the ball into the roof of the net. Seconds later and there was a huge change of pace from the Grecians, as Nombe almost equalised. A drilled effort from the edge of the almost made it 12 for the season, but Maynard-Brewer matched the effort with an almost as impressive save.

With the half drawing to a close, City were very much the team on top. Mitchell and Hartridge were combining well on the left-hand side with the ball eventually falling to Stansfield but his cross into the box seemed to pass every player in red and white, with it ending up at the back post. Running in was Caprice who leathered it with all his might, but the ball was smothered by a combination of Charlton defenders and keeper and that was the last action of the first half.

The second half started very much the same as the first ended with City the team on top, the opening 15 of the second 45 saw City keeping Charlton penned into their own defensive third, but none of that pressure amounted to any shots on goal, just corner after corner for the Grecians.

With almost 70 minutes played, Gary made two changes with Collins and Harper replaced by Harry Kite and Kevin McDonald, with the latter coming on to make his debut in red and white. 

In the space of two minutes a world class save from Blackman and an excellent block from Aimson on his debut kept the score at 2-1. From point blank range Blackman used his cat like reflexes to stop an almost guaranteed goal for the Addicks. Moments later and Gary made his final change of the game, another debut, this time it was James Scott called upon to replace fellow new signing Joe White.

Into added time and SJP almost exploded, a City free kick fell to the feet of Stansfield, but his half-volleyed effort flew just wide of the post, the pressure was all City in the final five. Another almost for City, this time it was Kite, but an out of this world save from Charlton’s keeper stopped one of those trademark screamers from Kite. And that was that for City, a few big chances at the end but a 2-1 loss at home to the Addicks.

Exeter City:
Blackman, Caprice, Sweeney ©, Aimson, Hartridge, Sparkes (Mitchell, 27), Collins (Kite, 70), Harper (McDonald, 70), White (Scott, 80) , Stansfield, Nombe. Subs not used: Woods, Diabate, Chauke

Charlton Athletic:
Maynard-Brewer, Dobson ©, Bonne (Leaburn), Kilkenny, Rak-Sakyi (Thomas), Fraser, Blackett-Taylor (Campbell), Inniss, Penney, Clare, Ness Subs not used: Harness, Morgan, Payne, Henry

Referee: Declan Bourne

Attendance: 7,685 (1057 Away)