Twelve months ago, a 3-0 home defeat to Morecambe on the opening day of the League Two season set the tone for what was ultimately a disappointing set of results on home turf for Exeter City.
In 25 League and Cup encounters, the Grecians won only seven, drew six and lost 12, including a penalty shoot-out defeat to Aldershot in the Johnstone's Paint Trophy.
Such form was one of the reasons why the Grecians missed out on promotion last season with their away form in stark contrast. A return of 11 wins from 23 was a new club record with only eight defeats on the road all campaign.
Manager Paul Tisdale hasn't admitted so much, but he knew home form needed improving. And to aide him with that cause, he sought a striker capable of performing the targetman role for his team, an option he did not have last season.
Enter Sam Parkin. Released by St Mirren in the summer, the former Chelsea, Swindon and Luton Town frontman ticked many boxes for Tisdale and it was no surprise to see him start Saturday's opening game of the 2013-14 campaign against Bristol Rovers. The 31-year-old responded with a superb individual performance and capped it with Exeter's winning goal in a 2-1 win over their Westcountry rivals.
It was a typical type of Parkin goal, stooping 12 yards out to put his head in amongst flying boots and send Arron Davies' perfect cross into the bottom corner. And it was just what Exeter deserved from a performance in which they looked more likely to score, but never really hit the heights that they are capable of.
Rovers arrived in Devon minus several first team players through injury including former City captain Matt Gill. Their young side showed great spirit, but whereas it was they that won the physical battle when the two side's met in Devon last season, and ultimately the game, it was Exeter that refused to be bullied and reaped the reward for their efforts on the day.
Tisdale, whose teams are so often praised for their brand of passing football, made no excuses for the performance, perhaps a telling acknowledgment that he knew they had won without much style. But what they lacked in that department, they made up for in fight and determination with several players catching the eye.
Parkin was the pick, his all round game, bringing players into play, keeping the ball and leading the line, was superb, while fellow debutant David Wheeler can be happy with his maiden Football League appearance after impressing on City's right wing.
The former Staines man didn't really have much chance to display his attacking credentials, but he was neat and tidy in possession and showed what a football brain he has with some notable defensive contributions. He is certainly a Tisdale type of player. And credit should also go to Arron Davies, who for so much of last season bore the brunt of the home fans' frustrations.
The Welshman has lost some of that pace that made him one of the lower league's hottest prospects whilst at Yeovil due to some chronic injuries. But he showed glimpses of past glories with a good performance culminating in his fine cross for Parkin's winner.
Defensively, the Grecians also looked solid, although they will be disappointed with the goal they conceded which came when Craig Woodman ducked under a Ellis Harrison cross and Eliot Richards was on hand to tap-in from close range.
It looked as though Woodman had heard a shout to leave it from someone, but other than that, he and fellow defenders Pat Baldwin, Danny Coles and Jordan Moore-Taylor can be happy with their shift.
Moore-Taylor was a surprise starter at right-back, ahead of Aaron Dawson, but so highly does Tisdale rate the homegrown talent, that he feels it necessary to find a place in his starting line-up for him. Coles, meanwhile, certainly enjoyed his day and broke the deadlock with a cracking back post header from Craig Woodman's corner kick to open the scoring against his former club.
All in all, this was a solid team performance and another highlight was the sight of Liam Sercombe back on the field and bossing the midfield. Sercombe has perhaps not been granted that kind of responsibility in his preferred central position before, but with his range of passing, ability to score from distance and desire to mix it up with the opposition, it is worth remembering what an asset a fully fit and confident Sercombe is to the Grecians.
