A goal on his home debut was enough to give Exeter victory in the basement battle against fellow strugglers Carlisle.
It was the visitors who dominated the first half and created enough chances to have put the game well beyond Exeter.
But a combination of poor finishing and heroic goalkeeping by Exeter’s Kevin Miller kept the scoreline blank.
And Scott Partridge made them pay the ultimate price with a goal on the hour mark.
Carlisle started brightly and enjoyed most of the early possession.
Brendan McGill’s volley in the 15th minute produced the first of a string of fine saves by Kevin Miller.
It looked only a matter of time before they opened the scoring.
Des Byrne’s free-kick found Mark Hudson inside the box and his close-range effort was smothered by the keeper.
Miller again came to the rescue for Exeter when he saved superbly at the feet of Craig Farrell and Peter Murphy struck the rebound past the post.
Adam Rundle then shot wide and Farrell struck the ball over the bar as Carlisle continued to control the game.
Matt Glennon saved well from Carl Pettefer as Exeter attempted a counter-attack but the visitors should have gone in ahead at the interval.
Instead it was Exeter who went ahead 15 minutes after the restart. Sean Devine’s fine cross found Partridge and he headed home from close range on his home debut.
Carlisle simply could not repeat the performance of the first half and hardly troubled Exeter after the break.
In the final minute Miller again frustrated Carlisle with a fine save to deny substitute Craig Russell.
Exeter boss Neil McNab said: "We were poor in the first half but we were the better team after the break.
“I was delighted for Scott Partridge. I brought him here to set up goals rather than score them but that is two in two games and I am delighted."