From the Exeter City website:
Lincoln City 1 Exeter City 1
City gain their first League One point
30 July 2022
Exeter City started life back in EFL Sky Bet League One with a very well earned 1-1 draw away to Lincoln City.
As the rain came down 579 Grecians made the 500+ mile round trip to the LNER Stadium for the Grecians first appearance in League One for ten years.
A beautiful goal courtesy of some magic between Jevani Brown and Sam Nombe secured Exeter's first points of the season.
The game started slowly, with both teams starting to get into the game and find space. Archie Collins was making a nuisance of himself at every opportunity with the set pieces favouring The Grecians.
Then came the 14th minute and everything changed. A lovely piece of skill from Jevani Brown down the right hand side left the Lincoln defence in the dust, executing the perfect pass across goal for Nombe to get the opener.
There was little to favour Lincoln in the first half with Exeter dominating possession and the long ball to Brown and Nombe working a treat. The dominant force of Alex Hartridge, Pierce Sweeney and Cheick Diabate making the first half light work for Scott Brown in net.
A breakdown in communication between a couple Lincoln players at an attacking corner saw a big chance go a miss. Next it was The Grecians turn to miss a chance with Jevani Brown's strike sailing just over the bar
When the 37th minute came around both sets of fans joined together and broke out into a minutes applause for much loved Lincoln supporter David Pickwell who sadly passed away in the last week.
In the final moments of the half the hosts started to get more into the game but the Grecians defence was very much untroubled. Matt Taylor's side wandered in at half time with the game very much in their favour, and veteran keeper Scott Brown in his 550th professional career game yet to break a sweat.
The second half started very much the same it ended with both teams unchanged from the first 45. However, this half saw the boys from Exeter shooting towards the travelling Grecians.
An enthralling start straight out of the blocks in the second half for City saw Jevani Brown making the Lincoln defences afternoon worse as the game continued.
But only moments later a looping header saw The Imps equal the score too 1-1 albeit very much against the run of play. The Grecians got straight back into the game, dominating the ball once again.
Exeter had a goal ruled out for offside in the 54th minute, a late flag from the linesman ended The Grecians away supports cheering. Big claims for a penalty not long after for the home side but the referee waves it away after some big shouts from the Lincoln attack.
The 68th minute saw a change in personnel with Harry Kite coming on to replace Josh Coley. A heart in mouths moment as only five minutes later Nombe goes down clutching at his hamstring and has to be replaced by Matt Jay.
A chorus of boos erupted after the 80th minute after Jay was almost decapitated right in front of the travelling away fans.
With the game coming to the tail end the game was starting to get scrappy but the ball very much staying in Exeter's attacking third. With only a couple minutes to spare, Scott Brown combined with his defence clear the ball right from the goal-line, The Grecians playing with fire at the back, yet survived the scramble to hold on.
Despite both teams peppering both goals in the final ten minutes the game ends 1-1 with The Grecians travelling back to Devon with a well earned point.
Next week the Grecians welcome Port Vale to SJP in the much anticipated first home game in the third tier since 2012.
Starting XI: S. Brown, Sparkes, Hartridge, Diabate, Sweeney (C), Key, Dieng, Collins, Coley, J. Brown, Nombe
Subs: Lee, Caprice, Stubbs, Jay, Chauke, Kite, Grounds
Lincoln City XI: Rushworth, Eyoma, O’Connor, Poole, Robson, Sanders, Sorensen, Oakley-Boothe, Adelakun, Hopper (C), Scully
Subs: Wright, Jackson, Bishop, Benn, Maguire, Makama, Kendall
Referee: Andy Haines
Attendance - 8,162 (579)
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