THERE was no Emirates FA Cup upset at the Draycott Engineering Loop Meadow Stadium today as Didcot Town were comfortably beaten at home to Sky Bet League Two side Exeter City.

Watched by a record crowd of 2,707, hopes were high that the Railwaymen could overcome the odds, but second-half strikes from former Irish international Clinton Morrison, Tom Nichols and Alex Nicholls brought Town's adventure to an end in the first round.

Big match nerves were certainly in evidence in the opening exchanges as the visitors subjected Didcot to some considerable early pressure.

Goalkeeper Leigh Bedwell had to be on his toes to keep Jordan Moore-Taylor out after he had been allowed a free header from close range.

Ryan Harley was next to try his luck when he was granted space in the area after a quick passing move on the right flank, but his side-footed effort was tame and easily held by Bedwell.

The hosts were comfortably contained by a solid Exeter defence for the most part, but they did create arguably the best chance of the half when Mark Janes raced onto a Josh Dutton-Black through ball and lifted it over the goalkeeper and just wide.

That was the Railwaymen's only clear sight of goal in the opening 45 minutes, but they were able to restrict Exeter's chances at the other end.

Jamie McAllister went closest to breaching the Didcot defence, swinging in a dangerous effort towards the top corner, which forced Bedwell to make another acrobatic save.

The home defence was stretched ten minutes before the half when Jack Self was robbed of the ball, allowing David Wheeler to break forward and lay it off to Morrison, who drove his effort narrowly wide.

That proved just a sighter for Morrison and with just three minutes played in the second half he broke the deadlock with a deflected effort which looped over the keeper and clipped the underside of the bar on its way in.

After keeping City at bay throughout the first half, it was a major blow for the Railwaymen, who never let their heads drop.

The excellent Dutton-Black was unlucky not to equalise for the hosts, weaving through several challenges before firing off a shot which struck substitute Mark Francis, whose follow-up effort was smothered by the keeper.

But as Didcot tired in the closing stages, their full-time opponents took advantage.

They grabbed their second in the 73rd minute when Arron Davies' cross was headed onto the bar by Wheeler, for Nichols to hook in the rebound.

And five minutes later they had a third when substitute Joel Grant found himself in acres of space on the right wing and rounded the keeper before squaring for Nicholls to tap into the empty net.

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Even a consolation was denied Didcot in the end, James Organ's sweetly struck volley somehow being tipped onto the crossbar from point-blank range late on.

Nevertheless, the hosts were treated to a standing ovation from all corners of the ground at the final whistle as they took their lap of honour at the end of a history-making run in the competition.

Didcot Tn: Bedwell, Heapy (Williams 87), Organ, Ballard, Carnell, Learoyd, Dutton-Black, Self (Francis 65), Janes, Martin (Powell 90+1), Longford. Subs not used: Woodley, Deabill, Collins, Edney.

Exeter City: Olejnik, Noble, McAllister, Harley, Davies, Morrison (Grant 78), Moore-Taylor, Nichols (Watkins 80), Oyeleke (Nicholls 62), Wheeler, Brown. Subs not used: Butterfield, McCready, Hamon, Tillson.

Ref: C Kavanagh.

Attendance: 2,707