Darlington v Exeter City, 19 August 2000

Last season's Third Division Play-Off finalists had to be satisfied with a share of the bounty as Exeter provided the Feethams faithful with their first visitors at the end of a troubled summer. Darlington had lost many of their leading players from last term but, as at Rochdale last Saturday, new boss Gary Bennett saw his team put up a determined show to gain their second point of the campaign. The Quakers nudged into the lead when centre back Craig Liddle powered in a close range header after City failed to deal with an inswinging Gary Himsworth corner. Having released no less than twelve players in the close season, Exeter made sure the long trip from Devon was worthwhile. One of their newcomers, Andy Roscoe, proved to be the hero as his well struck free kick deflected off the wall to wrong foot Andy Collett.