Cambridge City started their 2010-11 league campaign with a tough looking trip to Brackley, who had invested heavily in experienced playing personnel over the summer.

For the opener, City manager Gary Roberts handed debuts to new signings David Kolodynski and Craig Hammond both of who would form the strike partnership. Fellow new signing, Liam Nicell - who had been with City for a brief spell last season - started the game at right back. Another new recruit, Joey Abbs was on the bench together with Neil Midgley, Milton Elenge and Robbie Nightingale.

It was City who started the game the brightest, with neat passages of play and in the first 10 minutes settled the better. However, they were thankful to Dave Theobald for deflecting a 13th minute snap shot by the hosts over the City bar to safety.

David Kolodynski started the match impressively, and on the half hour mark found space to provide an excellent cross that Craig Hammond met at the far post, only to see his effort fail to trouble Turley.

It was Kolodynski again who was in the thick of it on 38 minutes when he found room on the left and 20 yards out, and with Turley slightly off his line, the City forward went for the chip that just went over the bar.

Two minutes later Brackley threatened when a left wing cross by Tom Winters found Owen Story whose shot was blocked on the line by Zac Barrett.

But it was Kolodysnki again that had the final hurrah of the half as he latched onto a great pass by Ash Fuller, and cut inside, but fired just over.

It took City 14 minutes after the re-start to create their next chance. This time it was Craig Hammond guilty of not finding the net. The City striker being put through, and one on one with Turley, he failed to convert and saw his effort saved by the legs of the former Oxford keeper.

On 68 minutes, Winters went on a mazy run, which the City defence failed to contain, and the Brackley striker unleashed an effort that just went over Barrett’s bar.

With the game entering its final period, Gary Roberts made two changes with James Krause being replaced by Joey Abbs and Neil Midgley coming on for Craig Hammond shortly after.

Nine minutes from time, Adie Cambridge who was booked earlier in the second half for a foul on Jon Challinor made room on the left, and swung in a cross that was expertly met by Ash Fuller, but his chance just cleared the bar.

A minute later, and City had another opening - courtesy of indecision in the Brackley box. It was Kolodynski again who showed great awareness and was first to react, but his effort was cleared off the line by the Brackley defence.

Moments later, Liam Nicell tried his luck with a speculative 25 yard effort, but once again Turley was there to deny City.

With City making the majority of the chances, it could have been to no avail if a Brackley shirt had managed to latch on to a Winters cross five minutes from time, but to the relief of the decent following of City supporters it came to nothing.

So honours even at the start of a long campaign. City will feel that with a bit of luck from some of the chances they created, they could have left St James Park with all three points, but a point is certainly a good return against a team many are predicting to be in contention come the end of the season.