Exeter City 1-2 Bristol Rovers (League Two)

After 7 league games without a victory, Rovers finally recorded their first 3 point haul of the season with a superb 2-1 victory away at high-flying Exeter City. St. James' Park saw goals from Rovers strikers David Clarkson and Eliot Richards sandwich a Jamie Cureton strike in an entertaining League Two match on a sunny September afternoon.

Clarkson put Rovers in front at Exeter City

Mark McGhee wasted no time in handing debuts to new signings Tom Eaves and Derek Riordan up front in Devon, with Adam Virgo taking the place of Michael Smith at right back who was unavailable this weekend. Clarkson was switched to a right wing position to accommodate the new boys and to aid coherency with his new partners. He was among a pre-match session lead by Marcus Stewart whereby the forwards would tee each other up for shots from 18 yards out. It was an exciting sight for Gasheads to see the two new boys warming up with the rest of the team and there was a genuine belief that we could cause Exeter some damage.

And the 1100 Rovers supporters were proven right just 5 minutes in to the game. Tom Parkes played a long ball towards the Grecians' left back Craig Woodman, who failed to bring the ball under control despite not being under any immediate pressure, inviting Clarkson to compete for the loose ball. The Scottish goal-getter outmuscled the home defender 18 yards out, switched the ball on to his left foot beyond Danny Coles and calmly slotted the ball past the despairing Artur Krysiak and in to the back of the net. The celebrations were loud and Clarky was clearly delighted to put Rovers in front. From then on in we just had to stick to the game plan - sit back a little and allow the home side some possession before picking them off on the counter attack. Whilst we weren't exactly attacking often, we certainly stuck to the plan and prevented our hosts from causing us too many problems. Cureton looked lively up top with Alan Gow but aside from a one-on-one the former had with goalkeeper Neil Etheridge, we seemed comfortable. Somewhat inexplicably the referee awarded 4 minutes stoppage time at the end of the first half and rather typically it was during this time that Rovers conceded the equalising goal. Gow and Matt Oakley combined in the penalty area to provide Cureton with the chance to fire in to the bottom corner from inside the 6 yard box. All square going in to half-time, rather unfortunately.

But our belief remained in tact - why shouldn't we go on to win the game if we applied a little more pressure of our own?

The home side re-emerged hoping to continue their spell of pressure and did so in the opening minutes of the second half. But no matter what they threw at our defence both Tom Parkes and Garry Kenneth gobbled it up with relative ease. Virgo was solid at right back and prevented the likes of Arron Davies from getting the ball in to our penalty area on too many occasions. We were holding firm and you just sensed that if we were to get a chance we could score a goal and perform the perfect away display. Not so much a smash and grab but just your typical solid away performance with clinical finishing in the few opportunities you did create. As if by magic Eliot Richards got the ball on the half-way line to lead a counter attack.

One of Exeter's many former Bristol City players Tommy Doherty misplaced a pass which Richards got a hold of before charing down the right wing. He got in line with the penalty area before cutting in on his left foot and unleashing a very saveable strike towards Krysiak's near post. But the element of surprise was just enough to distract Krysiak and despite getting his hands to it the ball bounced in to the roof of the net and Rovers were in front. The away terrace erupted and there jubilant scenes as Gasheads all around the ground jumped around in sheer delight. 70 minutes on the clock, we just had to hold out and ensure we remained solid at the back. Could we do it?

Yes we could! We professionally saw the game out with very few hearts-in-mouths moments and despite 6 agonising minutes of stoppage time the victory was ours. What a feeling! Our first win of the season in arguably one of our toughest games - typical. It was no less than we deserved for our solid performance and more confident style of play. With both Riordan and Eaves on board our attacking prospects look brighter and on the back of our first win surely we can go in to future games with a spring in our step. Next up is Cheltenham Town at the Mem on Wednesday in what will be another difficult game, but if we can perform as we did yesterday with more of an attacking intent then there is no reason why we can't defeat them.

For the first time this season; 'I've never felt more like singing the blues, when Rovers win and City lose!'.