York boss Billy McEwan has rebuilt his side during the close season with a number of new signings, and 11 players leaving the club. He handed debuts to keeper Tom Evans, midfielder Steve Bowey and striker Craig Farrell, who played for visitors Exeter last season.
Exeter's boss Paul Tidsdale joined the club Team Bass in June and he included new signings Rob Edwards in defence and Adam Stansfield up front.
The Minstermen were assisted by a strong wind in the first period, but it was the visitors who started the brighter. On two minutes the impressive defender Danny Woodards broke forward from halfway but shot straight at keeper Evans from 25 yards.
On 10 minutes Mark Convery's inswinging free kick was headed over his own bar by defender Chris Todd at the expense of a corner.
Two minutes later Jamie Mackie for the visitors latched onto a flick on and burst past defender Dave McGurk before firing an angled right-footed volley inches over the near post.
As the Minstermen began to assert control, defender McGurk rose majestically to head Convery's cross beyond the diving Martin Rice but saw his effort strike the post and bounce to safety.
Convery was involved again moments later playing a neat 1-2 with Clayton Donaldson before shooting across the face of goal from a tight angle.
Exeter hit back with a 20-yard volley from Andy Taylor which flashed wide following Matthew Gill's long throw, before former Exeter striker Farrell headed over from Bowey's free kick just before the break.
Two minutes after the restart Exeter striker Stansfield showed great skill on the edge of the box before slipping the ball forward into a crowded area.
Defender Darren Craddock should have cleared with ease but was caught out and had to thank his keeper Evans for making two superb point-blank saves from Mackie and then Stansfield.
Stansfield became more of a threat as the game wore on but he was unable to hit the target with an effort from the left edge of the box when he worked himself into space.
Then he sneaked in at the far post to meet Paul Jones' free kick but headed straight at keeper Evans.
The usually solid and reliable McGurk made a rare error outside the box to give Woodards the chance to burst forward but his shot struck a defender and went out for a corner.
Emmanuel Panther almost scored his first goal for York, striking a fine low drive from 20 yards which Rice pushed around the post. Moments later Rice denied James Dudgeon with another fine diving save from the defender's glancing header.
On 72 minutes Rice launched a huge kick down field and York keeper Evans raced out of his area and caught the ball but escaped with only a yellow card for his error.
Exeter had the chance to take the three points in the closing stages when Stansfield was cleaned through with keeper Evans back pedalling but he stabbed his close range effort a foot wide.