A super strike three minutes from the end of normal time meant City had to settle for a 1-1 draw in their friendly against Tamworth at the Lamb ground this afternoon.

The visitors had had the better of a closely fought first-half which had ended goalless and after the break City went ahead in the 54th minute when a brilliant through ball from striker Ashley Chambers sent Bruno Berner through on the overlap from left-back, the Swiss international turning the ball home via the near post.

But with the victory seemingly secure, and City having rung some changes, Tamworth midfielder Nick Wright blasted home a 25 yarder for a spectacular, if unlikely, equaliser.

It was another fine run-out for City, following the Noon encounter against Loughborough Dynamo, and, like the earlier fixture was watched by both City boss Nigel Pearson and chairman Milan Mandaric.

City started the brighter with Robbie Neilson sending Craig King down the right for a fine cross turned just wide by Chambers and looked in control with Matt Oakley and young midfielder Robbie Burns  working well together.

The nearest to danger faced by City goalkeeper Chris Weale was a speculative long-range dipper from Tamworth's Tom Shaw which landed on top of the bar as the half ended scoreless.

After going ahead, City switched the team, Tom Parkes coming on for Craig King to play left back, and well he did too, for Bruno Berner who moved into midfield with Robbie Burns moving to the right wing.

And soon Parkes and Burns combined to set up a chance for Steve Howard whose fierce volley from 20 yards did not miss by much.

Chambers was unlucky to see a goal-bound effort cleared off the line after he had cleverly turned the ball over the advancing keeper and then, just when it looked all over, Wright stepped up with the leveller.

The closing stages saw City pound forward and some lucky deflections saved the home side but in the end it finished all square in another valuable pre-season work-out

City: Weale: Neilson, Morrison, Hobbs, Berner, C King, Oakley, Burns, Dyer, Howard, Chambers. Subs Pentney (60 for Weale), Parkes (55 for C King), Bolger (87 for Neilson), John (80 for Burns).