LIKE a typical English summer, it never rains for Kevin Bond. It pours.

This August Bank Holiday damp squib emphasised the size of the task facing the Cherries boss to revive the club's flagging fortunes.

And with an instant return to League One looking a long way off after three games of the new season, it remains to be seen whether a winter of discontent could be on the horizon.

Dean Court is today due to stage Twenty20 cricket, which promises to be a thrilling event. On Saturday, the venue hosted NoughtOne football at its uninspiring worst.

In truth, neither side deserved to lose, although neither deserved a share of the spoils either and if ever there were a case for docking points then this was it.

Last season, Cherries and the Grecians were separated by League Two, their respective fixtures a year ago highlighting the gulf in opposition.

While Cherries enjoyed their first win of the season at promotion fancies Doncaster Rovers, Exeter's unbeaten start continued at Droylsden.

Doncaster now lord it in the Championship and Droylsden slum it in the Conference North, while Cherries and Exeter share equal billing.

If a year is supposed to be a long time in politics, the past 12 months must seem like an eternity for success-starved Cherries followers.

Exeter's first win since their return to the Football League after a five-year exile in the Conference was secured by Ryan Harley's goal midway through the second half.

Regular visitors to Dean Court during their Division Three (South) and Division Four days, it was also only their fifth league triumph in 41 trips to the Dorset venue.

The Devonians probably arrived more in hope than expectation but would have grown in confidence as Cherries continued to squander good possession.

However, with goalscoring opportunities conspicuous by their absence at both ends, the opening period was instantly forgettable.

Resplendent in his fluorescent orange strip, Grecians goalkeeper Paul Jones would have been better served helping out the stewards, such was the weight of his workload.

In mitigation, Bond was forced to make three changes to his starting line-up due to injury, while a fourth saw new loan signing Scott Wagstaff preferred to Sammy Igoe.

The absence of wantaway striker Jo Kuffour severely restricted Bond's options in attack, with last season's top marksman laid low by a bout of flu.

With goalkeeper Shwan Jalal, defender Joel Ward and Bristol Rovers-bound Kuffour all unavailable, Bond drafted in Ryan Pryce, Jason Pearce and Danny Hollands.

For his part, Pryce remained a virtual spectator until he was required to remove the ball from the back of the net after Harley's well placed drive had beaten him in the 68th minute.

Hollands, who made a surprise return after recovering from a knee injury, was one of Cherries' few shining lights in his first game of the season.

Operating in an unfamiliar role just behind lone striker Brett Pitman, he turned in a typically altruistic display and performed as if he had never been away.

Pearce, back after sitting out the 1-1 draw at Aldershot due to a hamstring problem, looked somewhat shaky during the early stages, something he had in common with a number of his team-mates.

Both he and Scott Guyett should have done better when Richard Logan's flick sent Adam Stansfield bearing down on goal after just eight minutes, the striker's resultant shot trickling narrowly wide.

Exeter's best opportunity of the opening period had presented itself after Cherries had gone close to taking the lead following a sweeping fifth-minute break. But Pitman's cross from the right lacked direction as Wagstaff looked to pounce from close range.

Although Cherries attacked with verve and purpose, their build-up play failed dismally to mirror their creativity, as Exeter's 18-yard box became a no-go zone.

Cherries' inadequacies in front of goal were exacerbated by the fact the Grecians defence was decidedly iffy in the first half, with skipper Dan Seaborne seemingly hell bent on kicking the ball above the stand with bovine regularity.

For all their defensive shortcomings, Exeter again went close to taking the lead when Stansfield made the most of some ponderous marking before firing past the upright in the 33rd minute.

And after the Cherries defence had parted like the Red Sea, Harley tried his luck from distance with Pryce parrying and Marcus Stewart failing to follow up the rebound.

The second half continued in much the same vein with a shot from Wagstaff and a prod over the crossbar by Matt Taylor from Harley's corner failing to trouble the scorers.

But Harley finally made the breakthrough when he beat Pryce with a low, angled drive after being sent scampering down the left flank by Rob Edwards's pass.

And the visitors went close to doubling their lead just seconds later when Dean Moxey's centre flashed across the face of the goalmouth with Stansfield almost converting.

As if by magic, Cherries finally found their shooting boots 15 minutes from time when Pitman's fiercely-struck drive drew a fine reaction save from Jones.

And a flimsy penalty claim fell on deaf ears after Igoe's cross had appeared to strike the hand of Seaborne in the closing stages of the game.