Without question, City are the best football playing side in their division and had they stuck to this remit for the majority of what was a often bruising encounter at Longmead Stadium on Saturday, then they would have returned home with all three points.

As it was, it took a scrambled equalising goal six minutes from time to ensure they shared the spoils with a home side, reduced to 10 men shortly before the interval, and with six players booked.

Although clearly missing the experience of the suspended John Girling and Barry Lakin, full credit was extended to the City youngsters, in particular Shane Wardley and Brian Sutton who both excelled, because they failed to be upset by some of the party tricks of the Tonbridge players in what was not an enjoyable game to watch for the 427 fans.

City always looked reasonably in control at the back with goalkeeper Paul Catley putting in another competent performance while up front Ian Cambridge, who was late in the game needlessly booked for dissent, was always creative, although young Tesfaye Bramble was off-form on the day, perhaps hardly surprising in that he bore the brunt of some dreadful tackles.

Mark Greatorex created City's best chance of the first half in the 33rd minute with a great run before pulling the ball back from the byline, only to see the home defence scramble it clear.

Two minutes later, City were behind when Alan Tutton's deceivingly dipping right wing cross eluded everyone in the area, all but the unmarked Clint Gooding who was on hand at the far post to score with a diving header.

Tonbridge were the stronger side in that first period but two minutes from the interval they had Ian Gibbs sent off after again crudely fouling Bramble, a repeat exercise that five minutes earlier had seen him booked.

Although playing against 10 men for the second half, City really failed to take the initiative with passes going astray, while the home side had four more players booked, which perhaps explains why for long periods there was little football being played at all.

With chances few and far between it took a left wing free-kick from Cambridge to set up City's scrambled equaliser in the 84th minute when Bramble got the final touch to push the ball over the line.

City deserved their point simply for perseverance but it will go down as one of the less memorable games of the season.

Chelmsford: lrying, Reeve, Wardley, Coburn; Greatorex, Sutton, Yamazaki, Berquez; Cambridge and Bramble. Unused substitutes: Shirley, Strong and Newman.

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