City denied by last gasp equalsiser

The Vanarama Conference North covers a wide area, from Gloucester City in the South to Barrow in the North & west into Wales & Colwyn Bay, this time it was to Britains most easterly point and to Lowestoft Town.

With Sean Geddes suspended and Ryan Boot recalled by Port Vale, Nathan Vaughan returned in goal and Joao De Sousa made his first start to a game.

The first half was an even affair with City's first chance coming with a well worked Daniel Nti and Ellis Deeney move which was flicked on by Rob Elvins into the path of Mike Symons, but the Lowestoft keeper Ashlee Jones just nipped in to claim the ball.

The Trawlermen replied with a succession of corners one of which was cleared to Lee Smith whose cross just evaded Jake Reed who had the goal at his mercy. Minutes later Reed's goal bound shot was denied by Jay Denny who cleared with his thigh.

Late in the first half a Tyler Weir cross was headed just wide by Tristian Dunkley.

On the stroke of half time good work from Reed and Robert Eagle for Lowestoft saw city keeper Nathan Vaughan palm away Eagles shot and from the resulting corner Vaughan again saved for City, this time tipping over the inswinging corner.

The second half carried on in the same vein but it was City who were to break the deadlock. A free kick just inside the City half was taken by Vaughan directly into the path of Daniel Nti whose header went straight into the top corner beating the stranded Jones much to the delight of the travelling City fans who had made the long trip.

Within a minute another Nti header, this time from an Ellis Deeney cross went inches over.

City were pushing forward at every opportunity and Jones was called into action to deny a fine strike from Mike Symons which was heading towards the top corner. From the resulting corner Andrew Fisk nearly headed an own goal but the ball rebounded off the cross bar.

Joao De Sousa was also denied by Jones when his goal bound shot was well saved.

The Trawlermen who were confined to the break for long spells saw their closest second half chance coming with a Jake Reed half volley dipping just over the bar.

With three added minutes, City gave away two free kicks midway in their own half. The first from Smith was claimed by Vaughan, but with seconds remaining the second from a similar position saw the whipped in ball fall in to the path of Jake Reed who made no mistake from the six yard line.

Nathan Vaughan and Rossi Jarvis were both sent off to leave both sides playing the last few seconds with 10 men. De Sousa was replaced by Jose Viega for City but was not called into action.

The point ended City's three match losing streak, leaving four out of the final five games at Home.