London Blue, please DONT! ! ! ! ! !
The first line in your message reads "having not flown for over two years!"
Unless you go by yourself. It is not sensible with such a lack of experience and currency to plan to take anyone with you and to lay your credibility on the line; you wouldn't want to impress friends as being unprepared, your ego would be involved. And it wouldn't be much fun to travel and attend a game by yourself....please please drive, use the motorway, stay overnight.
Exeter is not an easy place to go. Devon weather is often dodgy. Yes, by all means, fly to Exeter, or even to Cornwall. But go solo. And don't combine it with attendance at a football match, that adds too much pressure altogether. A long flight by yourself is a real achievement, and you are the only one at risk. Don't paint yourself into a corner. It could have a very unpleasant ending.
When you have done a few big trips on your own you may have a better understanding of the old saying "if you have time to spare, go by air"!