Exeter City show great promise in opening day win

Report: Exeter City 2 Bristol Rovers 1

A debut goal by Sam Parkin rounded off an opening-day win for Exeter City against local rivals Bristol Rovers.

City had gone ahead initially in the second half through captain Danny Coles, who thundered a header into the net.

However the Gas were level soon after when Eliot Richards diverted a cross into the net with a smart run.

But a great diving header by Parkin from an Arron Davies delivery sealed three points to get the Grecians off and running in 2013/14.

New signings Parkin and David Wheeler were immediately drafted into the starting XI for the first fixture of the season. In defence, Jordan Moore-Taylor took up the right-back position whilst Liam Sercombe began his first competitive game in seven months in midfield.

Rovers only named six subs, following a pre-season fraught with injuries and former City captain Matt Gill wasn’t amongst the side.

City looked the livelier in the opening exchanges, though the game didn’t settle into a pattern of play too quickly with both teams feeling their way into the match.

John O’Flynn was the first to test the Pirates’ rearguard as strong forward play on the inside-right channel allowed him to break clear – however John-Joe O’Toole cut the ball out with Parkin lurking and put behind.

Rovers, unable to mount meaningful attacks when shooting towards the Bank, were stretched again when Arron Davies slotted in O’Flynn but it was just intercepted in time by Ollie Norburn.

From the resultant corner, Parkin couldn’t believe that he missed the chance to score a debut goal when Davies’ perfect delivery was met by a powerful header by the striker – and whistled inches over the bar.

The most likely to make things tick for the Gas was O’Toole from the centre of midfield, but he had his name taken for a needless foul on Artur Krysiak, as he apprehended the Polish stopper when he was going for a goal-kick.

The next chance of note again came for the Grecians, on the half-hour mark. A ball hooked infield was controlled by O’Flynn on his chest before he unleashed a stinging half-volley, which had Steve Mildenhall scrambling – but it flashed over the bar.

Wheeler was showing energy in abundance on his competitive debut for the Grecians and was causing Rovers problems in the channel. Cutting inside, he launched a strike goalwards which fellow debutant Parkin could only divert beyond Mildenhall’s near post for another let-off for the visitors.

Half-time: Exeter City 0 Bristol Rovers 0