Lye made the most of gaps down the City right to create a series of gilt-edged chances in the first half with keeper Dan Jezeph pulling off a number of brilliant stops

A change of shape and the introduction of Liam Lockett for an injured Mat Birley changed things after the interval but it was City's turn to spurn opportunities.

Chris Withington’s finally broke the deadlock with a brilliant finish but the play was still fast and loose with basic mistakes contributing to Jason Wood's lobbed leveller from all of 35 yards six minutes later following a misplaced pass from James Baldwin.

While the equaliser was warranted on balance of play, it came at just the wrong time with City on the front foot and the match descended into something of a scrap from there.

Lewis Probert’s rocket flashed across Jezeph’s goal minutes later with English misdirecting another header from Lockett’s flag kick at the other end.

Francis did well to swat away a close-range Harrison header, while Baldwin had his moments without managing to meaningfully breach the 18-yard box.

Lockett and Baldwin combined to tee up Harrison whose shot was subjected to another vital intervention as the clock struck 90 to sum up an exasperating afternoon.

City: Jezeph, Weir, Osbourne, Forsyth, Stoddart, English, Birley (Lockett, h-t), Withington, Harrison, Evans (Willis, 79), Bates (Baldwin, 58). Unused subs: Caines, Gilder (g/k).

Lye: Francis, Colley, Probert, Pearlman, Pardoe, Lawley, Skeldon, Wood, Till, Billingham (Shilvock, 80), Worsey. Unused subs: McKenzie, Paskin, Meacham, Bala.