Both sides were guilty of missing key chances, and a replay will now be needed to separate the two sides, which will take place at Butlin Road on Tuesday night (15th October).

George Williams returned to the starting line-up after struggling with injury, and Ebby Nelson-Addy came in to the starting line-up after last Saturday’s 4-0 loss away at Stockport County.

Rugby started brightly and were unlucky not to take the lead inside the first ten minutes. First, Justin Marsden’s through ball unleashed David Kolodynski who fired his shot straight at Veiga. Seb Lake-Gaskin miscued his shot, sending it harmlessly wide of Veiga moments later, before Kolodynski beat Veiga with a curling effort that flew just wide of the goal. Rugby would rue their missed chances.

Town continued to have the better of the chances, as Seb Lake-Gaskin missed a big chance midway through the half. A free kick from Sam Youngs was headed goal-wards with the ball falling to Lake-Gaskin just outside the six yard box, but he lashed the ball over the bar when composure was needed.

After a nervy opening twenty minutes, City battled their way back into the tie and had a large share of possession, coming close when Aaron Williams headed wide off a Tom Thorley corner, before Danny Glover’s shot-come-cross forced Town goalkeeper, Niall Cooper, into action at his front post.

City nearly stole the lead ten minutes before the break. Tom Thorley’s firmly struck effort from distance was beaten away by Cooper, with the goalkeeper spilling his diving attempt to collect the ball. The rebound fell to Danny Glover, whose audacious attempt to lob the stranded keeper bounced agonisingly wide of the post.

In the closing stages of the half City piled on the pressure. Richard Taundry came close has his effort from the corner of the area was fired wide of the near post. Daniel Nti then set Aaron Williams clear of the offside trap, but he slotted his effort wide of the mark.

Jose Veiga set hearts racing as he turned into a winger just before the half time whistle, vacating his area to head clear a through ball. He then reconnected with his own header before jinking past one challenge with a neat turn and the goalkeeper ended up reaching the half way line. Carl Heeley did not look as impressed as the enthusiastic crowd at Aggborough, who seemed to enjoy the goalkeeper’s adventure, and the sides went into the break goalless.

In a frantic opening to the second half, City were close to edging in front when Aaron Williams headed a deep George Williams cross back to Nti, who flicked his acrobatic effort wide with his back to goal.

City missed another golden chance on the hour mark. Nti’s cross-field pass found George Williams, who travelled down the wing before finding Aaron Williams with a low cross into the area. But he blazed over on his weaker right foot from inside the box, and the score remained goalless.

City then had Jose Veiga’s good positioning to thank moments later, as the keeper was quickly out to thwart David Kolodynski’s dink over the back of the City back line, with Justin Marsden prowling.

Kolodynski attempted to steal the tie with a speculative effort as he spotted Veiga off his line with half an hour remaining, but saw his effort to replicate David Beckham sail harmlessly over the cross bar.

Substitutes Reece Hales and Niall Thompson looked lively as they were sent on to try and work an opening for City, and joint leading goal scorer Ethan Moore, who has four goals so far this season, was sent on to try to grab a winning goal for City.

But neither side had composure in front of goal and the game seemed to be edging closer to an inevitable replay.

Town had late appeals for a penalty denied as the ball hit Shabir Khan in the area, but the appeals were quickly denied by the officials.

City had the chance to snatch a place in the next round in the final seconds of the game as Niall Thompson was tripped in the Town half. Ellis Deeney whipped his free kick from the right hand-side to Daniel Nti at the front post, but the frontman headed over the angle of the bar, and the replay was confirmed.

City boss Carl Heeley indicated after the game that he thought the draw was a fair result, but was pleased to still be in the hat for Monday night’s fourth qualifying round draw.

“It was a classic game of missed chances from both sides. Obviously in the first twenty minutes rugby had three of four good chances to score. But we had a lot of chances as well,” said Heeley.

“In fairness neither side looked like they had any conviction so on the face of that although the most unlikely of results if you look at the chances, I think a draws a fair one,” he added.

“The Objective before the game was to still be in the hat for the next round. We’re still in the hat. We’ve got to make sure we go and do the job now at Rugby.

City will now travel to Butlin Road in the hope to keep their FA Cup dream alive.

Highlights from the Game are available via WCFCTV

Report by City Match Day Reporter: Alex Harris

Attendance 704