City endured a second final  frantic five minutes of the week, this time just failing to hang on to the three points that looked to be theirs for the taking. Two late Salisbury strikes ensured that the points were shared, giving the Lilywhites five points from their opening three games and an unbeaten run.

There was just one personnel change from Tuesday’s team, Joey Abbs in for James Krause at left back.

The opening exchanges were like two boxers sparring one another but never landing a telling blow. Both sides had their moments, City’s best and most spectacular occurring when Ashley Fuller’s cross was flicked on by Dave Theobald to David Kolodynski who essayed an athletic and powerful bicycle kick which keeper Ryan Pryce was happy to collect.

Zac Barrett was also kept busy in the City goal, but was not unduly troubled until Liam Nicell was adjudged to have pushed a Salisbury attacker, giving  Kayne McLaggon the chance to slam the ball hard down the centre of the goal and give his side the lead from the penalty spot.

City managed to equalise at that best of times, right on the stroke of half time. Ashley Fuller swapped wings, turning up on the right to send cross which was neatly nodded into the corner of the net by Craig Hammond.

Both City and Salisbury had their chances in the second half. Matthew Wright’s effort on 50 was well saved by Barrett, while Kolodynski had a penalty appeal turned down three minutes later. The striker eventually made way for John Sands on 70 minutes, having again performed well and causing the visitors’ defence a number of problems.

The game really took off in the last 15 minutes, which saw City move into what looked like a winning position, first after Fuller netted with a  strike that will already stake a claim as goal of the season. When Adrian Cambridge’s corner was punched away by Pryce the ball fell to Fuller who lashed his return into the net via the angle of the post and cross bar to make it 2-1.

Salisbury came forward in numbers for the equaliser, but were undone when the Lilywhites counter-attacked at speed. Sands played a perfectly weighted ball through to Hammond who ran half the length of the field while avoiding the attentions of the Salisbury defence before beating Pryce in a one-on-one. 3-1 and with four minutes left on the clock, the three points looked safe.

However, Salisbuty were offered a life-line when McLaggon’s shot beat Barrett and canoned down off the bar on 88 minutes. Substitute Adam Kelly was on hand to bundle the ball home for an ugly but vital goal. The 90 minutes came and went and surely City were safe, but heartbreakingly for the Lilywhite faithful it was not to be. Daniel Sheehan swung a last desperate cross into the City box. Darrell Clarke appeared to thrust two hands into the back of Nicell as players battled for space, however, the referee was not as eagle-eyed as he had been in the first-half and allowed play to continue. The ball broke for Clarke who levelled the scores on 93 minutes from close range.

A draw and the second thrilling game in five days. Five points from three fancied teams reflects an excellent set of results in the first eight days of the season.