SWINDON Town’s first home appearance of the season at the County Ground drew a crowd of almost 8,000 for the visit of last season’s League 2 Play Off runners up Exeter City.

Town made three enforced changes from the side that won at Carlisle with Harry Smith, Chris Robertson and Donal McDermott replacing Luke Norris, Johnny Goddard and Dion Conroy.

Norris was however included on the bench having apparently recovered from the dislocated shoulder injury suffered last Saturday.

Exeter immediately showed why they are again likely to figure in the promotion shake up this season with positive attacking play and a well organised defence.

They were far more dominant in midfield and prevented Swindon from getting into any fluent passing routine.

In the 27th minute the visitors took the lead with Liam MacAlinden smacking the ball past Lawrence Vigouroux after he had palmed Reuben Reid’s effort onto the post.

The first half Town performance would have been particularly disappointing to those fans seeing the new team for the first time as it was a very disjointed affair.

As the team trooped off at the interval you had the feeling that everything needed a bit of tweaking.

Chris Hussey had taken a number of set pieces but his execution was far below the standard he had set in his first two games.

Give Manager David Flitcroft due credit - he responded at once and brought on Luke Norris for Smith and new signing Kaiyne Woolery for McDermott.

Immediately Town’s play had more bite and urgency.

Thankfully Norris was showing no ill effects from his shoulder problem and was winning and holding up the ball well. Ten minutes into the second half Woolery was released by Norris and made an immediate and important return on his £350,000 transfer fee.

His startling pace was too much for the Exeter defence and he finished superbly to bring the Town level.

Although Woolery came close on another couple of occasions, Exeter were still creating the most dangerous chances and Vigouroux needed to be at his best on a couple of occasions. Late in the game, as added insurance to hold onto their point, Town replaced the largely ineffective James Brophy with the more defensive Conor Thomas.

Nevertheless City almost travelled back to Devon with all three points when substitute Sparkes fired against the post in the dying minutes.

In truth this was a point well won by a Town side still getting to know each other.

Exeter’s persistent pressure was evidenced by their 14 corners as opposed to Swindon’s two, and they will certainly be a force to be reckoned with in League Two.

Town’s manager showed his humorous side in the post-match interview.

When asked about Kaiyne Woolery’s debut performance, Flitcroft commented that he was a player that they had been watching and tracking for 6-8 months.......”...he hasn’t just landed from the Planet Pluto !”