Hopes and Expectations.

RECORD SEASON TICKET SALES

Such has been the interest in Exeter City's return to The Football League that not only have the sales of season tickets produced a new record, but also the various off the field opportunities have also been snapped up, as more and more individuals and businesses want to become part of the exciting times to come at St James' Park. City are well on the way to selling a record 1,200 season tickets which has delighted Grecians' Commercial Director Paul Morrish "We have benefited from promotion and the feel good factor that comes with playing at a higher level. But the other thing is to give credit to the management and players for the good style of football they are playing. "It is particularly encouraging that we have got a number of new season ticket holders in all areas of the ground. Obviously the prices of our season tickets have been designed to help people to feel good about the club. We would really encourage people to bring their friends and family and anyone interested in getting behind the club. "We are in a national setting being in the Football League, it is a different level of exposure every week and the name of Exeter City will get mentioned nationally. It is a great thing for people to be part of and we encourage them to do that. I think word has got out that the football at St James's Park is worth watching and people are happy to come and watch. Sponsorship packages and the club's matchday products have all been selling well, things are shaping nicely ahead of the new season. We are pleased with the progress we have made."

Exeter 1 Portsmouth 1

Posted on: Thu 17 Jul 2008

WEMBLEY hero Rob Edwards struck a second half equaliser as Exeter City fought back to claim a highly creditable 1-1 draw with FA Cup holders Portsmouth at St James Park last night. After falling behind to a highly dubious penalty, converted by England international Jermain Defoe, the Grecians more than matched their more illustrious guests in an entertaining affair which saw Edwards net a deserved equaliser for the Devon side four minutes after the restart. The Grecians lined up with 10 players in the side that begun the Blue Square Premier play-off final at Wembley. Only Dean Moxey, still recovering from a broken foot, was missing from the side that overcame Cambridge United and sealed Exeter's return to the Football League. New signing Marcus Stewart was among the substitutes, as was Pompey's big name signing Peter Crouch who was present but did not playThe FA Cup winners fielded a strong team with current and former England internationals David James, Sol Campbell and Defoe all starting while a Gambian-born trialist by the name of OJ partnered Defoe in attack. Pompey started brightly and OJ forced a brilliant save from Paul Jones inside the opening five minutes with a header from Defoe's cross. However, Pompey took the lead with a fortuitous penalty on nine minutes given for an apparent foul by Matt Gill on OJDefoe stepped up and sent Jones the wrong way from 12 yards. Pompey were playing some great football and, at times, City were chasing shadows. Another fluent move led to Defoe finding himself one on one with Jones and with the City keeper in no man's land, he tried to chip him only to put the ball high over the crossbar. To be fair to the Grecians, they tried to play a passing game themselves and they gradually came into the game more and slowly began to take control. Adam Stansfield had a sight of goal after some terrific play by the outstanding Edwards, but James was off his line quickly to get a vital block on the striker's shot City created another good chance when they pressured Noe Pamarot into a mistake and as Stansfield shaped to shoot, Steve Basham took the ball off him, only for James to again come to Pompey's rescue with a fine stop. The Grecians were enjoying their best spell so far, although Defoe tested them with a snap-shot from 25 yards that Jones did well to holdAt the other endSeaborne headed over from a Ryan Harley free-kick. Jones made another fine stop to beat away Arnold Mvuemba's stinging volley and Defoe missed a glorious chance to make it 2-0 when he first set Pedro Mendes free and then latched onto the Portuguese's return before hammering the ball wide. It was certainly a frustrating night for the England ace as he missed another great chance by smashing the ball over the crossbar from barely ten yards. Pompey made a host of changes at the break and as they were still familiarising themselves with each other, the Grecians drew level, Edwards took a quick free-kick to Basham, who played the one-two and Edwards drilled the ball under Jamie Ashdown from a slight angle to the delight of the Big BankPompey almost hit back as David Nugent teed up Ben Sahar, but he side-footed wide from 12 yards, while at the other end, a Stansfield cross bounced off the top of the Pompey crossbar before being put behind. Stewart was given a rapturous welcome when he made his St Jamesbow on 56 minutes, but it was Portsmouth who looked threatening with a Nugent chip deflecting just wide, while Pompey hitman OJ fizzed another shot across the face of goal. Saha then sold Matt Taylor the cutest of dummies before bearing down on goal, but just as he shaped to shoot, Seaborne made a brilliant goal saving tackle. By this time, the Grecians had made a number of changes themselves as manager Paul Tisdale gave a run out to virtually all of his first team squad. Andy Marriott made a superb save to keep out Sulley Muntari's shot, while at the other end, with their last attack, Linvoy Primus screwed a clearance over his own crossbar from a Harley corner.

Exeter City (4-3-3):
P Jones (A Marriott h/t); S Tully (L Sercombe 78), M Taylor (J Bishop 78) D Seaborne (S Bennett 88), G Friend (N Martin 88); M Gill (B Cozic 67), R Edwards (M Panther 67), R Harley (L Tasker 88); S Basham (D Green 88), A Stansfield (C McAllister 78), R Logan (M Stewart 56).

Goal: Edwards 49

Portsmouth (4-4-2):
D James (J Ashdown h-t); Lauren (R Duffy h-t), N Pamarot (S Distin h-t), S Campbell (. Primus h/t), M Cranie (D Traore h-t); G Little (R Hughes h-t), P Mendes (D Nugent h- t)S Davis (S Muntari h-t), A Mvvemba (D Subotic 81); J Defoe (B Sahar h-t), OJ (J Francois- Christophe 72).

Goal: Defoe pen 9

Referee: P Gibbs (W Midlands)

Attendance: 5,359.