Harriers were unlucky to suffer their first defeat of the season after enjoying the best of the game at St James' Park against Exeter who maintained their 100% start to the campaign.

Stuart Watkiss named an unchanged team, sticking with the eleven that had started against Woking at the weekend and resisting the temptation to throw two-goal hero Taiwo Atieno in to the side. Exeter included former Harrier Billy Jones for his debut while former Grecian Gareth Sheldon had to be content with a place on the Harriers bench.

An absorbing first half was fairly even with Harriers just edging it.  The visitors were the first to show with Lee Thompson going close with a 25-yard drive after play was waved on when Terry Fleming was fouled.  At the other end Paul Buckle tried his luck with a low shot from distance that didn't have enough power to trouble John Danby who was able to gather it in easily.

As the half drew to an end Harriers began to get on top with Simon Russell creating a number of openings that Harriers were unable to capitalise upon.  First his cross from the right wing found Thompson at the far post who knocked the ball back into the goalmouth but City were able to clear and then his next cross from the right found an unmarked Michael Blackwood who headed straight at Paul Jones in the home goal.  Blackwood then went close again with a shot into the side netting after a short corner. In the last couple of minutes of the half Danby was called upon again to turn a low shot from Andy Taylor round the post for a corner.

After the break City stepped up a gear but again it was Harriers who had the first chance.   Russell played the ball down the right wing for Iyseden Christie who cut inside and jinked past two defenders before shooting over the bar from just outside the penalty area.  On the hour Daryl Burgess came to Harriers' rescue, blocking a shot from Craig Farrell who had been left unmarked at a corner.  After Martin O'Connor had been lost to injury, allowing Laurie Wilson to make his debut, Harriers still continued to press and had the ball in the net when Sheldon turned in Terry Fleming's cross only to have the goal disallowed as Sheldon was offside.  Shortly afterwards Harriers had another great chance when Wayne Hatswell's deep cross from the left found Sheldon at the far post who headed back across goal just behind Atieno instead of heading for goal himself.

From that let-off City went straight up to the other end and scored; the ball was knocked forward and Mark Jackson lost out to Lee Phillips who knocked the ball square to Farrell in acres of space who had plenty of tie to slot it inside Danby's right-hand post.  For the second game in a row Harriers found themselves behind but whereas last season's Harriers would have folded, this new-look side keeps plugging away to get back into the game. A pass from Wilson set Atieno clear through the inside-right channel but he mis-hit his first-time shot off his shin and it went horribly wide.

The game had become more end-to-end by the closing stages as Harriers looked for an equaliser and City hoped to build upon their advantage, which they nearly did eight minutes from time when Glenn Cronin was allowed to run through the Harriers defence unchallenged but fortunately for the visitors he fired into the side netting. This time there was not to be any late, dramatic, heroics from Harriers, their last good chance fell to Sheldon who saw his 25 yard free kick pushed round the post for a corner by Jones.