Darlington started their season with a draw which was a disappointing but fair result on what was Exeter City's return to the Football League.

A goal in each half settled the outcome, but Quakers will feel it was an opportunity lost having been the better side during the opening half, but they then allowed the Grecians into the contest after the break.

Darlington's starting line-up included seven of their summer signings and two of them, Jason Kennedy and David Poole, both came close to scoring the opening goal.

Kennedy was on loan with Quakers last season but made the move permanent in pre-season and almost marked the transfer with a goal but his seventh minute shot from 16 yards cannoned off the bar and Poole volleyed the rebound narrowly wide.

An entertaining start to the season saw chances for both sides, with Exeter, playing their first game in the Football League after five years in the Blue Square Premier, keen to celebrate their return in style.

Their best chance early on was a Ryan Harley volley pushed around the post by Darlington's new keeper Simon Brown.

Striker Billy Clarke started for Quakers, 24 hours after joining on loan from Ipswich Town, and his first noteworthy contribution was a rasping left-footed shot from 22 yards that Exeter keeper Paul Jones could only gather at the second attempt.

The Irish forward tried another attempt from similar range ten minutes before the break but again Jones was equal to it.

However, Jones could not stop Rob Purdie's penalty awarded five minutes later for a trip on Clarke close to goal by Exeter left-back George Friend who was perhaps fortunate not to receive at least a booking.

Purdie was in the team ahead of Neil Austin and his goal rewarded Darlington for shading a first half in which they were rarely troubled, but that changed after the break with the Grecians cleared fired up.

Three minutes into the second period Brown instinctively used his legs to keep out Rob Edwards who appeared certain to tap home an equaliser after receiving the ball six yards out.

Aside from two surging runs up the left by new winger Adam Griffin, Darlington rarely troubled Exeter and only a flying save from Brown protected Quakers' advantage.

But the lead only lasted until the 60th minute when Dan Seaborne firmly planted home a header at the far post following Edwards' free-kick.

Quakers boss Dave Penney reacted by making a double substitution, sending on striker Gregg Blundell and midfielder Robin Hulbert, signed on Friday from Port Vale, but Darlington found themselves under pressure from a determined Exeter.

But they failed to trouble Brown with an optimistic Ryan Harley shot, that he dragged well wide, being the best the visitors could muster before Quakers battled their way back into the contest.

They attacked in numbers and frequently sent the ball into the opposition's penalty area the goal just would not come, Kennedy firing narrowly wide being the final action of the day.

Darlington (4-4-2): Brown; Purdie, White, Foster, Fortune (Austin 71); Poole, Ravenhill (Hulbert 69), Kennedy, Griffin; Proudlock (Blundell 69), Clarke. Subs (not used): Kazimierczak, Miller

Exeter City (4-3-3): Jones; Tully, Seaborne, Taylor, Friend; Gill, Harley, Edwards; Logan, Stewart, Stansfield. Subs (not used): Marriott, Panther, McAllister, Basham, Sercombe

Referee: Graham Salisbury

Attendance: 3,559