Disappointment in draw highlights U14s progress

City can take plenty of positives from an entertaining and end-to-end 2-2 draw with Cheltenham Town.

After starting sluggishly compared to the neat passing of their opponents, City took the lead somewhat against the run of play when Harry Stone fed Billy Owen, who manoeuvred into a shooting position on the left and stroked the ball sublimely over the keeper into the top corner.

The goal appeared to wake up the hosts and it wasn't long before they extended their lead when Stone turned provider again with a superb delivery from a free kick that Harry Rebbeck nodded in.

Town had a headed chance from a corner at the start of the second quarter, which City went onto dominate as they created numerous chances. Rebbeck saw his shot blocked at the near-post after a flowing move down the right and pinpoint delivery from Will Cottell. Jamie Neath just failed to latch onto a delightful through ball before Owen twice went close to netting again.

City were left to rue these missed opportunities as Q3 went the way of Cheltenham, who levelled the match with their midfielders particularly impressive. After hitting the bar at the start of the quarter, Town pulled a goal back when they broke down the right and saw their initial shot blocked by skipper Oli Sheahan only for the ball to break fortuitously into the path of their player to prod in.

Some more great work in midfield resulted in Town's striker latching onto a through ball and holding off his defender to slot in the equaliser.

City lifted their heads and almost regained the lead instantly when Neath fed Cottell, whose effort skimmed off the crossbar.

As the game became stretched in Q4, both sides had chances to win the game - City in particular going close on several occasions. Neath rolled just wide after great work by Matt Athey before Town were thwarted by an outstanding reaction save from close quarters at the other end.

After a great run down the left and shot, Cottell worked another opening for himself after good approach play by Athey and Rebbeck. Unfortunately he was millimetres away from getting the goal that his efforts deserved and what would prove to be the winner when his shot bounced agonisingly off the post with the Town keeper beaten to leave the match all-square.

Whilst City will naturally be disappointed to let a two-goal lead slip, they can take huge credit for another solid team performance in which they played some decent football and created numerous chances which, on another day, might have gone in. Three matches unbeaten certainly emphasises the progress being made though.