CITY PLAY OUT DRAW AT FELLOW HIGH-FLYERS

THIS top of the table clash ended with honours even as both teams played out a 1-1 draw.
It was City who started on the front-foot and we were rewarded with an early goal when an inviting corner was met with a firm header from Mark Smith that beat the ‘keeper to give us a third minute lead.
The home side hit back in search of an equaliser but Matt Gwynne was on hand to thwart them with a couple of smart saves.
Some good defensive play by Albert denied the hosts as they started to see more of the ball in attacking situations as City sat back and soaked up the pressure.
After another effort from distance by the home side flashed wide, there were calls for a City penalty when Dave Reynolds appeared to be pushed inside the area but the referee was uninterested.
The skill of Josh Sarmento out wide was starting to cause the home side concern, whilst Alex Tomkinson had a free-kick from a decent position that went over.
Just past the half-hour mark Griffiths tried his luck from distance and as the ‘keeper spilled his effort, Sarmento was unable to turn the loose ball home.
As the opening period came to a close, Sarmento was seeing plenty of the ball but we were unable to find a second goal.
There was a good save from Gwynne to deny the home side as they capitalised upon a slip from Mark Smith on the greasy surface and from the resulting corner, the ball was forced home only for an offside flag to half the home celebrations.
They were able to level matters in stoppage time at the end of the first half when a free-kick rebounded into the path of Meese who was able to apply the finish.
Boosted by the goal, the home side went close soon after the restart when a header from a corner crept inches wide.
There was real intent in the home side’s play but City were working hard to frustrate them. A couple of substitutions, including the introduction of Lee Hughes, saw us start to get a foot-hold back into the game and George Forsyth had a free-kick in a promising position that was defended bravely by the home side.
The returning Tyler Weir did well to clear the danger from a Khalsa free-kick that was delivered invitingly into the area.
As the clock ticked down, Gwynne saved well as we secured a good point on our travels from a side that sat one place above us in the table.

CITY: Gwynne, Weir, Griffiths, Albert, M. Smith, Forsyth, Birley (Hughes 58), Birch, Sarmento,Reynolds, Tomkinson (Baldwin 53). Subs not used: Fishwick, Chiwara, Dayus.