City extended their unbeaten run under caretaker boss Jez George to two games following this hard fought draw at The Moorlands.

George was forced to change his line-up from last week because of illness and injury. Influential midfielder Che Wilson was sidelined with a virus, while Matt Clements failed to recover from his hamstring pull. Richard Skelly came into centre midfield with Adie Hayes, having recovered from a thigh strain, slotted in wide on the left.

With two already missing with injury, City were dealt a heavy blow with only two minutes on the clock. Steve Holden pulled up with a muscle strain and City had to shuffle their pack with the game barely underway. Jack Wignall moved into the centre and academy product Marcus Hering was handed his Dr Martens debut.

City reacted in the best possible way to this set-back by taking the lead and it was a lovely move that created the chance. Gritty battling by Skelly won possession, Robbie Simpson played a quick give and go with Hayes to send the former King's Lynn man away on the left, his low cross was touched on by Simpson to Rob Sturgess who found the corner with a precise finish. Soon after, City almost doubled their advantage. Danny Bloomfield found Hayes cutting in from the left flank, he advanced on the goal before firing a rasping drive just beyond the far post.

City were working hard with Simpson and Hayes combining particularly well on the left, Moor Green just couldn't get into the game as City probed and harried their defence. On twenty minutes, a head tennis competition between the home defence and City's midfield saw the ball eventually drop for Skelly 18 yards out, but he drove high over the bar. A minute later saw the home sides first attempt on goal. A free-kick was only partially cleared, Nathan Lamey retrieved the ball and crossed for Jae Martin to place a superb header right on target, but Martin Davies produced an equally superb save to turn it over the bar. City pressed again and full-back Hering combined well with Sturgess, the former sending over a curling dipping cross that Adam Rachel in the home goal was forced to tip over his bar.

With twenty five minutes on the clock Lamey for once got the better of Hering and scampered down the left hand side before whipping in a dangerous near-post cross. Dean Pear just failed to make contact with a spectacular attempt at a diving header, the ball ran loose in the area and Rob Elmes managed to poke the ball goalwards but there was little strength behind it and Shane Wardley easily hooked it clear.

Danny Bloomfield tested Rachel at his near post after latching onto a long clearance before Moor Green again came close to pulling level. Lamey went down theatrically looking for a penalty after a Jack Wignall challenge that clearly got the ball, a corner being the outcome. From the flag kick City were caught flat footed and Martin nipped in front of Davies as the City stopper came top collect the ball, the strikers flick header only just clearing the bar.

With half-time fast approaching, City should have gone in two ahead. Wardley, up in support of the attack was found brilliantly by Hayes, his cross picked out Simpson 12 yards out in space, a quick touch saw the ball under control and the youngster let fly but his shot caught the outside of the post and went behind.

In the second half the game developed into a rather dour midfield struggle with neither team producing the quality to produce a goalscoring chance, in fact the only one on the field producing anything at all was the referee as he showed yellow cards to first Jai Stanley and then to Elmes, both for reckless late tackles.

Just after the hour, City had a penalty appeal turned down. The home side were almost the architects of their own downfall as they got in a mess at the back. A series of continental style passes between the back four ended with Richard Robinson, under pressure from Simpson, presenting the ball to Hayes. He pushed forward and attempted to chip a cross to Bloomfield but Robinson appeared to block it with a straight arm at his side, the referee waved play-on.

Shortly after this the referee took temporary centre stage. Lamey reacted angrily to a Wignall challenge and punched the City defender, he was instantly shown the red card swinging things in City's favour, however the advantage was not to last long as Wignall himself was shown a straight red card for a miss timed tackle on Martin, three minutes later. It was a harsh decision, the tackle only really warranting a yellow at most.

As a result City were forced into their second defensive reshuffle of the half with Sturgess moving to the centre of defence. Maybe it was one rearrangement too many as City lost their shape somewhat and Moor Green came alive and began to apply some concerted pressure forcing numerous corners but without really carving out any clear chances.

Moor Green full-back Richard Evans was becoming a danger as he began to find space on the left. It was his near-post cross that Colin Vowden almost put into his own net on seventy minutes. The City defenders stretch at the near-post forced a great stop by Davies. Immediately City went down the other end and Rachel had to be very alert to beat Bloomfield to Haye's lofted ball over the top.

Moor Green eventually levelled the scores on seventy three minutes, but City could consider themselves unlucky. The home side won a free-kick just outside the area, Evans body shape suggested he was trying to bend the ball over the wall with power but only succeeded in scuffing the ball to the far post where Wardley could do nothing as the ball cannoned off his shin and into the net, although Martin claimed the strike.

From hereon in it was all Moor Green as they pressed hard looking for the winner as City began to tire. City conceded a number of corners, from one Elmes forced Davies to save well from his point-blank effort.

City were forced to make another defensive change in the last ten minutes as Wardley hobbled off, Wilkin coming on in his place, but the makeshift backline held firm and City almost nicked the three points when with four minutes remaining, Bloomfield flicked a header just beyond the post from Wikins cross.

Another performance full of effort and endeavour, and with City's youngsters improving with every game, a win cannot be that far away.