An injury-time Andrew Crofts goal gave Brighton a much-needed victory.
Exeter dominated for long spells but clear cut chances were limited, Marcus Stewart heading straight at Peter Brezovan inside the opening minute.
Brezovan then upended Stuart Fleetwood in the area but guessed correctly to keep out a weak spot-kick from Stewart.
Albion's Liam Dickinson went close and Adam Stansfield was denied by Brezovan when clear before Jim McNulty crossed for Crofts to nod in from 12 yards.
Exeter City manager Paul Tisdale told BBC Radio Devon:
"We played well again, so unfortunately that's three games in a week where I'm happy with the performance and disappointed with the result.
"It's definitely a run of results that we didn't want, nor expected, but it's happened and there are small details which you can address but the theme and the style and personality of our team was excellent.
"It's a real shame we missed the penalty, everyone can debate it, but we missed it and we'll have to move on."
Live text and stats
Saturday, 5 December 2009
League One
Home Team
Score
Away Team
Time
Exeter
0-1
Brighton
FT
(HT 0-0)
Crofts 90+2
Exeter
01 Marriott
03 Duffy
06 Taylor
11 Golbourne
29 Archibald-Henville
04 Russell (Stansfield 70)
07 Harley
14 Cozic
12 Corr
16 Stewart (Dunne 81)
45 Fleetwood (Logan 70)
Substitutes
27 Jones,
02 Tully,
15 Edwards,
21 Dunne,
22 Sercombe,
09 Stansfield,
20 Logan
Brighton
29 Brezovan
04 Elphick
06 El-Abd
12 Tunnicliffe
27 Hoyte yellow card
08 Navarro yellow card
18 Dicker (McNulty 87)
20 Crofts yellow card
26 Bennett
09 Forster (Cox 90+4)
17 Murray (Dickinson 63)
Substitutes
31 Pelling,
02 Whing,
03 McNulty,
23 Virgo,
07 Cox,
24 Smith,
10 Dickinson
Ref: ShoebridgeAtt: 5,456
EXETER
BRIGHTON
Possession
Exeter52%
Brighton48%
Attempts on target
Exeter6
Brighton3
Attempts off target
Exeter3
Brighton1
Corners
Exeter5
Brighton4
Fouls
Exeter10
Brighton17
90:00+3:45 Substitution Dean Cox is brought on as a substitute for Nicky Forster.
90:00+1:57 The assist for the goal came from Jim McNulty.
90:00+1:57 GOAL - Andrew Crofts:Exeter 0 - 1 Brighton Andrew Crofts grabs a headed goal from deep inside the penalty area. Exeter 0-1 Brighton.
90:00+1:54 The ball is sent over by Jim McNulty,
90:00+0:44 Unfair challenge on Alan Navarro by Richard Logan results in a free kick. James Tunnicliffe takes the direct free kick.
89:13 Matthew Taylor fouled by Andrew Crofts, the ref awards a free kick. Andy Marriott takes the direct free kick.
86:23 Substitution Jim McNulty comes on in place of Gary Dicker.
84:46 Adam Stansfield takes a shot. Save made by Peter Brezovan.
81:35 The offside flag is raised against Liam Dickinson. Andy Marriott restarts play with the free kick.
80:58 Substitution (Exeter) makes a substitution, with James Dunne coming on for Marcus Stewart.
78:21 Adam El-Abd gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Ryan Harley. Richard Duffy takes the free kick.
77:08 Elliott Bennett decides to take the corner short.
76:53 Nicky Forster takes a shot. Save by Andy Marriott.
74:41 Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Ryan Harley by Alan Navarro. Free kick taken by Ryan Harley, Matthew Taylor takes a shot. Save by Peter Brezovan.
71:00 Unfair challenge on Scott Golbourne by Liam Dickinson results in a free kick. Andy Marriott takes the free kick.
69:21 Free kick taken by Scott Golbourne.
69:21 Substitution Adam Stansfield replaces Alex Russell.
69:21 Substitution Richard Logan replaces Stuart Fleetwood.
69:21 Booking Gavin Hoyte is cautioned by the ref for unsporting behaviour.
68:59 Gavin Hoyte concedes a free kick for a foul on Marcus Stewart.
67:38 Inswinging corner taken by Elliott Bennett from the left by-line.
66:15 The official flags Liam Dickinson offside. Direct free kick taken by Andy Marriott.
65:41 Stuart Fleetwood concedes a free kick for a foul on Peter Brezovan. Peter Brezovan takes the free kick.
64:18 Liam Dickinson takes a shot. Save made by Andy Marriott.
62:45 Substitution Liam Dickinson joins the action as a substitute, replacing Glenn Murray.
60:42 The referee blows for offside. Indirect free kick taken by Peter Brezovan.
59:33 Elliott Bennett challenges Richard Duffy unfairly and gives away a free kick. Direct free kick taken by Andy Marriott.
58:56 Corner taken by Scott Golbourne from the right by-line to the near post, Alan Navarro makes a clearance.
57:05 Andrew Crofts takes a shot. Andy Marriott makes a comfortable save.
54:41 Alex Russell takes the inswinging corner, Glenn Murray makes a clearance.
52:51 Free kick awarded for a foul by Elliott Bennett on Scott Golbourne. Free kick taken by Alex Russell.
49:02 The official flags Glenn Murray offside. Free kick taken by Andy Marriott.
47:15 A save by Peter Brezovan from penalty by Marcus Stewart. Exeter 0-0 Brighton.
47:15 Penalty awarded for a foul by Peter Brezovan on Stuart Fleetwood.
46:33 Foul by Glenn Murray on Ryan Harley, free kick awarded. Scott Golbourne takes the direct free kick.
45:01 The match restarts for the second half.
Half Time
45:00+1:07 It is the end of the first-half.
45:00+0:41 Elliott Bennett takes a short corner.
42:55 Ryan Harley produces a strike on goal direct from the free kick, save by Peter Brezovan.
42:55 Booking Alan Navarro receives a yellow card for unsporting behaviour.
42:43 Foul by Alan Navarro on Bertrand Cozic, free kick awarded.
38:42 Barry Corr challenges Tommy Elphick unfairly and gives away a free kick. Peter Brezovan takes the direct free kick.
38:13 Marcus Stewart takes a shot. Blocked by Tommy Elphick.
37:45 Ryan Harley takes a shot. James Tunnicliffe gets a block in.
37:27 Free kick awarded for a foul by Gavin Hoyte on Stuart Fleetwood. Free kick taken by Alex Russell.
34:58 Unfair challenge on Glenn Murray by Alex Russell results in a free kick. Shot comes in from Elliott Bennett from the free kick.
34:10 Unfair challenge on Scott Golbourne by Nicky Forster results in a free kick. Direct free kick taken by Scott Golbourne.
32:40 Glenn Murray challenges Matthew Taylor unfairly and gives away a free kick. Troy Archibald-Henville restarts play with the free kick.
31:58 Effort on goal by Bertrand Cozic from outside the area goes harmlessly over the bar.
30:24 Foul by Barry Corr on James Tunnicliffe, free kick awarded. Direct free kick taken by Peter Brezovan.
28:26 Stuart Fleetwood fouled by Adam El-Abd, the ref awards a free kick. Richard Duffy takes the direct free kick.
27:58 Foul by Troy Archibald-Henville on Glenn Murray, free kick awarded. Free kick taken by Alan Navarro.
26:52 Corner from the left by-line taken by Alex Russell, Barry Corr challenges James Tunnicliffe unfairly and gives away a free kick. Peter Brezovan takes the free kick.
22:24 The referee blows for offside against Glenn Murray. Andy Marriott takes the free kick.
21:29 Corner taken right-footed by Alex Russell from the left by-line to the near post, clearance made by Tommy Elphick.
19:03 Inswinging corner taken by Scott Golbourne from the right by-line.
17:41 Effort from the edge of the penalty box by Marcus Stewart goes wide of the right-hand upright.
17:11 Andy Marriott takes the direct free kick.
17:11 Booking Andrew Crofts receives a caution for unsporting behaviour.
16:37 Unfair challenge on Troy Archibald-Henville by Andrew Crofts results in a free kick.
14:14 Scott Golbourne challenges Glenn Murray unfairly and gives away a free kick. Gary Dicker restarts play with the free kick.
10:39 The assistant referee signals for offside against Nicky Forster. Andy Marriott takes the free kick.
9:11 Unfair challenge on Tommy Elphick by Barry Corr results in a free kick. Peter Brezovan restarts play with the free kick.
7:55 Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Barry Corr by James Tunnicliffe. Ryan Harley produces a strike on goal direct from the free kick.
6:30 Short corner taken by Elliott Bennett from the right by-line.
5:45 Tommy Elphick fouled by Stuart Fleetwood, the ref awards a free kick. Peter Brezovan takes the free kick.
3:08 Handball decision goes against Nicky Forster. Scott Golbourne takes the direct free kick.
1:49 Unfair challenge on Richard Duffy by Nicky Forster results in a free kick. Richard Duffy takes the free kick.
1:14 Marcus Stewart takes a shot. Save by Peter Brezovan.
0:00 The match has kicked off.
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