Following a pre-match pitch inspection and some unconventional 'sweepers' on the pitch brushing off surplus water after yesterday's heavy rain, City's first game after lockdown was able to take place with Solihull Academy in what turned out to be an even contest that ended 2-2 on a beautiful morning at Perdiswell.

The visitors were first to show and attacked straight from kick-off with the home defence repelling their early advance despite looking nervy.

Still in the opening minute, City went down the other end and took the lead in a move started by Archie Thurston, who fed Jesse Asomugha on the left wing. He advanced and crossed to the back post where the lurking Will Cottell shot home.

Moments later, Cottell had a great chance to grab his and City's second minutes later when he broke clear but his effort went wide of the post.

Solihull's set-piece delivery throughout the match was excellent and they came close to an equaliser with a free-kick from distance that bounced dangerously past the upright.

Despite losing a man to the sin bin, the visitors held firm although they were indebted to their keeper, who made a superb save to block Asomugha's header at a corner.

The second quarter opened with some good defending at both ends as firstly City's Matt Athey took up a good position to clear off the line as the visitors threatened from a corner. A Solihull defender then made a brilliant sliding block to foil Sam Cotton.

But the hosts weren't to be denied and extended their lead from an unlikely source. Loitering on the edge of the box following another corner, centre-back Alex Fenn latched onto a pass by skipper Cian Sheehan and worked some space to fire a shot that had just enough pace to nestle in the bottom corner.

But the two-goal advantage wasn't held for long as another pinpoint Solihull free-kick into the City box deflected into the home net off the unlucky Cotton as he tried bravely to clear the danger under a challenge.

The goal lifted the visitors and they got another boost after being gifted an equaliser in Q3. City had several chances to clear the ball as it pinballed around their box before it ricocheted to a Solihull player who slotted in with the open goal gaping.

The quarter ended with the hosts engineering a couple of decent attempts to regain their lead - Jamie Hill firstly showing good feet to create a shooting opportunity that went narrowly wide and Cottell then manoeuvring some room to get in a shot that went just over.

With all to play for, the final quarter started with Solihull almost snatching the lead themselves with Josh Reed-Jones forced to tip over at his near post.

After Fenn came close to notching a second goal when his header looped onto the top of the visitors' crossbar, City thought they had grabbed a last-gasp winner in the closing seconds as Asomugha tapped into an empty net after the Solihull keeper's goal-kick bounced off George Hymas into his path. However the goal was ruled out for a jump that blocked the clearance.

It probably would have been a cruel way to conclude the match which was fairly even throughout so a point apiece was a just outcome for the endeavours of each team on their return from lockdown.