Cheltenham Town 1-1 Bristol City
Adam Baker reports from Whaddon Road

David Clarkson's goal earned City a 1-1 pre-season draw at Cheltenham Town.

The summer signing from Motherwell pounced from inside the box on 74 minutes to cancel out David Bird's free kick earlier in the half.

Both sides fired against the woodwork twice in an entertaining match at Whaddon Road.

Early chances from Elvis Hammond and Marley Watkins came and went, while at the other end John Akinde headed against the post from Cole Skuse's corner.

Another corner moments later, this time from Frankie Artus, caused danger in the box and Liam Fontaine was denied by a Scott Brown goal-line save.

Frankie Artus received a good reception back at Cheltenham

City survived a real scare on the half hour as David Hutton rattled the bar with a header, and then saw his rebound attempt cleared somehow by James Wilson.

Nicky Maynard blazed over from ten yards, and then Marvin Elliott's header bounced back from the crossbar.

But it was Cheltenham who finished the first half stronger as goalkeeper Peter Brezovan made a fine stop to frustrate Hammond.

Ten changes at the break saw City change all but their goalkeeper, and one of the replacements Danny Haynes went close from distance straight after the restart.

On 55 minutes Hammond went through and found Brezovan at his best. From the rebound Barry Hayles, the ex-Bristol Rovers striker, slid his shot against the post.

First-half captain Liam Fontaine goes sliding in to win the ball

The deadlock was finally broken on 65 minutes as Hammond was felled on the edge of the box. From 25 yards, Bird curled his free kick over the wall and into the top corner for 1-0.

Hammond should have doubled the home side's advantage when he skipped beyond Brezovan, but rolled his shot too slowly and Louis Carey was able to clear.

Clarkson could have equalised when Brian Wilson's cross picked him out unmarked on 73 minutes but the Scotsman headed wide.

However, just 60 seconds later he was in the right place at the right time to bring City level, thundering the ball beyond Brown.

City: Brezovan; Orr (B.Wilson 46), McCombe (Carey 46), J.Wilson (Nyatanga 46), Fontaine (McAllister 46); Sproule (Williams 46), Skuse (Johnson 46), Elliott (Hartley 46), Artus (McIndoe 46); Maynard (Haynes 46), Akinde (Clarkson 46).