Exeter - Home, Withdean Era
Season 12 (H) 2/11/10 - 3-0 ~ El-Abd, Barnes 2
It was an evening fixture, when other clubs in L1 played local rivals - up north, in midlands, around the metropolis or down south. For some FL version of understanding geography, we got City on a Tuesday nite. But at least the weather was half decent to return a 7k crowd, most of whom wanted to see B'ton cement our position at top of the table. Gus was playing a settled side of sorts, although with a strong squad, could easily interchange personnel to suit each and every occasion. He could go 442, 41212, 433 or any permutation in between. Even reserves played to the same specification and pass, pass, pass was order of the day.
Early doors, El-Abd made the break through when heading in Bennett's corner (7min). That inclined Grecians to move out, rather than sit back for nil-nil. On the half hour, Murray got brought down going into the DZ and Barnes netted a penalty kick (30m). In the second half, B'ton fans got out of their prams when Barnes appeared to be struck in the head. It kinda woke W'dean up and more goals were expected. Good football gathered pace and Barnes finally settled it with a nice finish from Bennett's cut back (77m). GP then made changes, Albion cracked on again and in all honesty, we shoulda bagged a nap hand. Exeter were reduced to 10men when, after using all subs to halt a landslide, a defender got injured late in the day. Barnes, Dicker, Kish and Painter stood out and provided an engine for others to get up to speed. We won ok but you couldn't help thinking this squad could still tighten up their act. We'd need to and all, in order to stay ahead of the chasing pack for another forty fixtures to come.
Ankergren, Calderon, Greer, El-Abd, Painter, Bennett (Bridcutt), Dicker (Battipiedi), Kishishev, LuaLua, Barnes, Murray (Baz).
League1 P 15 . W 10 D 4 L 1 . F 27 A 8 . Pt 34 Po 1

Season 11 (H) 27/2/10 - 2-0 ~ Elphick, Dicker
It had been a while since Exeter called and there was plenty of water under those respective bridges since. Look at the report below to get an appreciation of how it seemed over seven seasons previous. Brighton tried to hang in the Championship (div1) but failed, while Falmer remained just a dream on paper. Meanwhile Exeter had visited various Conference venues on their particular fall and rise again. We met as two struggling third-tier clubs, with God only knows how many other managers as part of recent history. Gus Poyet got to be gaffero under chairmanship of Tony Bloom in their first year but at least Falmer was being built at long last. In fact that iconic arch above the skeleton stand had been hoisted during a wet winter week prior to this fixture. In a cold 2010, BHA hadn't won in four months at W'dean, with GP awaiting his first win there. It was a chilly afternoon but dry and nearly 7k supporters attended, hoping for a change of luck.
Albion took the game to City, using a 451 shape that GP found effective away from home. We knocked on Grecians door but with grey clouds gathering, couldn't colour our display with an early score. On 26min Bennett sent over a deep corner and Elphick got up to head home. There were general feelings of relief among Brighton fans and we'd led before to no avail. After turnaround, City had a go but Seagulls flew up-field and swooped at a f-k. The ball was cleared to Dicker, who picked his spot from distance at angle of post and bar (49m). This match kinda went a bit flat coz a two goal lead hadn't flattered us. Fast winger LuaLua slowed on a heavy pitch so ex-Conf striker Holroyd took over. Murray got a knock so Harty subbed. He musta thought it was ten years earlier in some sort of career flashback. But no, this was real and about time we pushed on for the Champ's once more. Next year perhaps?
Brezovan, Calderon, Elphick, El-Abd, Painter, Bennett, Crofts, Navarro, Dicker, LuaLua (Holroyd), Murray (Hart).
League1 P 33 . W 9 D 10 L 14 . F 40 A 51 . Pt 37 Po 16

Season 4 (H) 11/9/02 LC 1 - 2-1 ~ Cullip, Wilkinson
Some clubs forever seemed to hover over the brink. It certainly was a way of life for many and as the base of a far-reaching league football pyramid broadened, then also their near-death experience. Brighton had got close to trawling those depths and it took concerted efforts of fans, a take-over consortium and support from unitary authorities to escape drowning. Down in the west country on fringes of Nationwide Saturday afternoon fervour, it appeared only to be a matter of time before they sank with a few old hands still aboard. Exeter's manager said, 'we have got to go into every game with victory on our minds. Brighton had Adams, Taylor and now have Hinshelwood at the club. It will be very difficult to repeat the success they've had in the last couple of years. The higher you get the tougher it is but with players they've got, there'll always be a chance.' Taylor had known the true facts and baled out, anticipating a sinking as waters inevitably became rough for our smooth Sussex by the sea side. There had been six five-figure gates in div2 but in div1 that would treble and was a huge obstacle for restricted Withdean to hold off under the water line. Hinshelwood had enjoyed beginners luck but was quickly finding out his hull was holed and before too long would be forced to abandon ship. Light relief from League Cup apart, keeping afloat in div1 was proving to be a voyage too far where our pleasure cruise approach was reduced to a hulk by a hostile 23 gun broadside. After sailing too close to the wind with a motley crew, we'd be going down at this rate of lethal hits below decks.
When Exeter took a very early lead from a controversial penalty, it set a trend that would haunt Brighton fans in days soon to come. On a half decent Wednesday evening, 5200 were full of woe until Wilkinson showed the way forward before half time. On 90 minutes it was 1-1, so extra time was necessary. Cullip nodded in Oatway's free kick and we went through aet. Hinsh said, 'the team showed a lot of character and confidence after suffering an early setback. Hopefully the win will help push us on in the league.' Yeah, hope was all we really had left.
Petterson, Pethick, Cullip, Butters, Watson, Melton, Carpenter, Oatway, Brooker (Jones), Marney, (McPhee), Wilkinson.

Season 2 (H) 22/12/00 - 2-0 ~ Rogers, Hart
Although the first team was doing the biz in the first half of this second season at Withdean, Brighton's youth teams were also excelling. U17s were leading their league and U19s near to top of theirs with games in hand. Boss Dean Wilkins had gotten a mixed team to advance to round 3 of the FA Youth Cup but went out 1-0 after being the better side without scoring. He said, 'footballs got a nasty habit of kicking you in the teeth if you don't put chances away when on top. It's disappointing because this is possibly the strongest side in the three seasons I've been coach. This cup is different because of the prestige and we could have gone further. A lot of lads will only get two goes at the Youth Cup.' Kids from that squad who went on to multiple Albion first team appearances were Hinshelwood, Virgo, Hammond, Harding, El-Abd, Marney and McPhee. Better luck next year lads!
This fixture was a Friday evening pre-festive affair came to be regarded as just another wet night per season and by many who hadn't even partaken of alcohol. Perhaps it was better to be protected by a winter warmer because harsh reality of Withdean, on and off the pitch tended to make one a little sober. And guess what - it didn't really matter if the team had an off day, this year and hopefully next we got points anyway. Those that could remember details rather than overall impressions still recall Exeter tried to kick us into the night sky to emulate Santa's aerial sleigh team landing on the Sportsman's roof. Ref would have booked the whole City eleven but wanted to stick to a round number divisible by 10. Hart bagged an in-off attempt via ex-Albion Campbell to help with his Xmas win bonus. Rogers had also registered on a colourful blue versus red striped score sheet. There were any number of 'defensive' players capable of and more importantly, who did ripple the net from time to time. These included Watson, Jones, Carpenter, Wicks and even Oatway, Mayo and Cullip. So far ok, so good. So there!
Kuipers, Watson, Cullip, Wicks (Crosby), Mayo, Hart (Freeman), Rogers, Carpenter, Oatway, Brooker (Jones), Zamora.
Div 3 (League 2) P 22 . W 14 D 3 L 5 . F 39 A 18 . Pt 45 Po 2

Season 1 (H) 3/1/00 - 4-2 ~ Freeman, Pinamonte 2, Rogers
5,4,3,2,1 and 'happy New Year', so 1999 became 2000 in a single second. Those Brighton fans who were in our 'city by the sea' for a brand new millennium, experienced inclement conditions just like on a dark match day at Withdean. Those fireworks too were somewhat muted in a damp squib-like atmosphere, just as at Withdean on several occasions in last weeks of the old century. But we were halfway through a homecoming football season, full of hope for a bright future and ending a decade of heartbreak in a town that time forgot. Dick Knight though had a vision for Falmer and he would now lead us to this Promised Land having beforehand, endured slings and arrows of outrageous misfortune. In the meantime BHA was canvassing all supporters to provide information regarding travelling arrangements that would go forward to help build a transport strategy. Brighton and Hove City Council were some way down the road with draft Local Plan proposals and there was interaction between council, club and fans to ensure a clear path to Falmer.
You wait years for that first goal of Y2k and what should happen but following a noon k-o, within minutes Freeman goes into record books and had got the requisite T-shirt slogan under his Skint sponsored silks to boot. So there was instant excitement and gratification for 5700 at the Withdean, where afternoon tea and coffee replaced subdued swallowing of midnight champagne on aforesaid late Friday evening around town. New boy and giant Italian forward Lorenzo Pinamonte, notched a neat looking double to also win approval from b&w devoted. His header from a Watson corner and controlled half volley from a Carr f-k, appeared to be something of a class act. Exeter hit back and decided, on a Monday after the weekend before, to join in the fun. They had done a double over us in '98/99 and ended up in mid table, although this term struggled in the bottom third. It began to turn into a Bank Holiday spree as Grecians grabbed two goals, while footy Gods realised they really had to celebrate 2000 years in early Nationwide, if not global fashion. Rogers made it four and suddenly we could score freely again in a year full of expectation.
Walton, Watson, Cullip, Carr, Crosby, Mayo, Freeman (Aspinall), Rogers, Oatway, Hart (Thomas), Pinamonte (Ramsay).
Div 3 (League 2) P 24 . W 9 D 7 L 8 . F 38 A 30 . Pt 34 Po 14

Exeter - Away, Withdean Era
Season 12 (A) 3/1/11 - 2-1 ~ Murray, Barnes
Out with the old and may those aged acquaintances be forgot to boot. Yes folks, New Year 2011 had arrived so, this Bank Holiday, Brighton fans were on the road again in numbers around 800. Albion led the table going into Xmas and wanted to remain clear of that chasing prom pack. Our away form had slipped a little since October high points and a thaw in previous bad weather allowed an opportunity to get back on track. Gus Poyet put out a side capable of winning and introduced Craig Noone to the line-up. He was signed from Plymouth in the transfer window. It appeared Poyet was building for the future at Falmer in the Championship.
What a match it turned out to be on a sticky pitch. City went ahead when Albion couldn't deal with a corner, following an indifferent opening (8min). Slowly but surely visitors repelled home attacks and got a toe-hold to remain only one down by half-time. Poyet changed from 451 for the second period, bringing on Wood immediately and re-shaping to 442. Around the hour mark, Barnes got to take part in 433 now, as B'ton morphed into attack mode. His cross from left flank was netted by Murray to even things up (64m). Ten minutes later, Kishishev subbed and went into cent m-f, letting Bennett drop to wingback. Seagulls took control and pushed up, looking for all three points. It was a risk worth taking when Barnes smacked the ball home in the 90th minute from a Bennett centre. The contest had hung in balance and bold tactics paid off. City felt hard done by and probably warranted a point from their enterprising breaks on the counter. In the event, not a vintage BHA full monty display but the kind of scoreline that realistically, could just get us that dream debut at Falmer in August.
Ankergren, Taricco (Kishishev), Greer, El-Abd, Painter, Bennett, Dicker (Wood), Bridcutt, Sparrow, Noone (Barnes), Murray
League1 P 22 . W 12 D 7 L 3 . F 39 A 17 . Pt 43 Po 1

Season 11 (A) 5/12/09 - 1-0 ~ Crofts
All those wasted years since turn of the century but at least Falmer was going ahead. And looking more like a pukka stadium week by week too. Roll on 2011. Meanwhile in Devon things weren't so great, especially at the away end. On this day in history it rained as well and we all got wet. Well, 500 or so of the six who travelled and stood, rather than sat in the old stand. Gus Poyet had come in to save us from League2, when really, he wanted to get us into the Championship in 2 years. Yeah, time would tell. His first signing was a big Slovakian keeper Peter Brezovan, who made his debut in the wet.
As weather conditions got worse, both teams tried to play football to a reasonable standard. Albion were defo up for it and gave as good as they got. But chances were sparse at both ends and it was 0-0 at h-t. Soon after the restart (48m), Brezo floored an opponent and it was a pen. But the giant custodian saved it and game on again. B'ton were grinding it out with little hope of netting, although the game was on a knife edge. GP put on Dicko for Muzza (64m) and we picked up a bit as rain fell steadily. McNulty got on very late (87m) but provided an attacking threat. BHA drove forward and got a corner. We had numbers up and kept pressure on. McNulty crossed and Crofts leapt to head home in injury time. We'd only gone and nicked it and in front of dribbling B'ton fans and all. It quite made our day. Gus was prob ok too but he doesn't like a song and dance outburst in public.
Brezovan, Hoyte, Elphick, Tunnicliffe, El-Abd, Crofts, Navarro, Dicker (McNulty), Bennett, Murray (Dickinson), Forster (Cox)
League1 P 20 . W 5 D 5 L 10 . F 23 A 37 . Pt 20 Po 21

Season 2 (A) 27/1/01 - 0-1
A little over a month previously, City arrived at Withdean struggling in the bottom three of div3 and we all knew what that meant. Conversely Albion were cruising in second spot, maintaining a small gap above those chasing from play-off positions. As expected Brighton beat Exeter to extend the status quo and justify pundits' forecasts. Due to circumstances beyond our control as they say in broadcasting, Brighton played post New Year fixtures exclusively away from home. Withdean was out of action for a few weeks while a new pitch was put down and bedded in. The end of year visit to Rochdale also fell to foul conditions, apart from those couple of rescheduled games at the Withdean during January. Therefore nobody could say there was a surfeit of contests before this return game at their Devon south coast venue. That made an inept performance all the more surprising, as a lacklustre Brighton eleven succumbed to a revitalised club on the bottom rung. Nearly 1000 travelled to the West Country and swelled St James Park's gate to a tad under 4500. Perhaps it was the open, idiosyncratic nature of the place, with pitch-level views of surrounding suburbs. Maybe it was a reaction to disruption in those diary dates, through cause and effect. Who really knew, we got beat either way. Brighton fans at that St James Road end were not happy, as a 'big bank' home mob opposite celebrated a 1-0 advantage.
Micky Adams said, 'certain sections of our support voiced their displeasure at a performance we all agree was substandard. Did I or anybody else at the club say we were Manchester United, who haven't got a right to lose games. While on that subject I believe our new pitch rivals the one at Old Trafford.' BHA had now broken a possible third undefeated sequence, which would be so helpful in keeping up a two points per game average. Previously two such unbeaten runs had extended to 9 and 6 games respectively with one defeat in between. Form since that solid block of positive results had been mixed but thankfully, they don't delete points for having an off day.
Kuipers, Watson, Wicks, Crosby, Mayo, Hart (Jones), Rogers (Freeman), Carpenter, Oatway, Brooker (Ramsay), Zamora.
Div 3 (League 2) P 26 . W 16 D 3 L 7 . F 42 A 21 . Pt 51 Po 2

Season 1 (A) 8/4/00 - 0-0
On that perennial merry-go-round of fourth tier league football it was devil take the hindmost, as after 46 rotations one club fell off into the Conference. During those nasty nineties there was pressure on lower clubs from off-field activities as well and many businessmen's true motives were questioned in the boardroom. Exeter seemed destined for the drop in 1995 but were spared by FL rules & regs when Macclesfield couldn't jump onboard due to inadequate facilities. To compound this problem, St James Park had been sold to developers and leased back. You know that sort of thing was happening all over the country, while Premiership plc got richer and everyone else poorer. Anyway a local FC supposedly forever represented its town or city and Exeter local authorities decided to act and buy the place for posterity. That was ok but they'd previously blocked a move to an out of town site and building of a new venue. Sometimes football is very politically incorrect.
This match was made all-ticket because that away terrace was not particularly extensive. Brighton fans tended to turn up in four figure numbers on occasions, especially if it might be sunny at the seaside. Nearly 1400 reached tail end of the M5 to all but double attendance. There were giant piles of earth around the joint and those old stands and Goldstone-like 'big bank' had seen better days gone by. Brighton played in blue and Exeter red stripes, which was jolly nice and colourful because you could instantly see which fans were supporting for home or away sides. The only thing missing was a goal but typically that's football and statistically it's gonna happen again soon. A half decent unbeaten run extended from mid winter doom and gloom. Adams had been in charge for twelve months but had not quite turned a losing team into a winning one. We had a positive goal difference but 6 of those went in on sensational day one. The only way was up but Albion needed to find a goal-scorer, although Micky already had one in mind.
Walton, Watson, Cullip, Crosby, Mayo, Freeman (McPhee), Rogers (Aspinall), Oatway, Brooker, Hart, Ramsay (Ling).
Div 3 (League 2) P 41 . W 15 D 13 L 13 . F 60 A 44 . Pt 58 Po 12