City's second eleven were denied all three points of Wednesday night's Pontin's League clash with West Brom after a cruel last minute blow.

Despite trialist Stephen Opoka firing the Potters into a first half lead, Joss Labadie levelled things up with a 90^th minute strike, to earn the visitors an undeserved point.

First team coach Mark O' Connor selected a very young starting eleven, with the likes of Academy stars Ryan Shotton, Jimmy Phillips and Geoff McGaw all starting.

The visitors were fastest off the blocks, crafting a number of good opportunities however Shotton, who returned from injury, trialist Ndiwa Lord Kangana, Sean Robinson and James Curley stood firm to soak up the pressure.

As the half wore on, the youthful City side began to toake the game to their opponents and deservedly took the lead when Okpara smashed the ball home following an exquisite cross from Australian Hayden Doyle.

The lead was nearly doubled soon after following great work down the left wing from Geoff McGaw, but the impressive Daryl Fordyce couldn't divert his pin-pointed centre goalwards.

The second half was end to end stuff with both Doyle and Baggies midfielder Rob Davies stinging the fingertips of the opposition's goalkeepers.

McGaw was causing all sorts of problems on the wing and his neat turn and shot was easily gathered by John Bateman.

The visitors upped their tempo during the final ten minutes, and it took three wonder saves from Steve Ryan to keep them at bay.

However, with just two minutes of added time being announced disaster struck as the visitors snatched a heartbreaking equaliser.

Albion substitute Labadie manoeuvred his way through the City midfield before unleashing a powerful strike from 25-yards which beat Ryan and flew into the bottom right hand corner.

Despite the blow of the last minute goal, coach O'Connor spoke of his delight at the way the players bounced back from five straight league defeats.

He says: "I thought the lads were magnificent, even though reserve football isn't result orientated the players showed some grit and determination after a poor run of results.

"It was very pleasing to see Shotton come back into the team, and I thought he did a tremendous job at the heart of the defence.

"It was disappointing to concede so late on but the lads put in a good performance, and I think a lot of them showed some good character."

CITY: Ryan, Robinson, Curley, Vass (Keys 31), Shotton, Lord-Kangana, Phillips, Doyle, Opoka, Fordyce, McGaw (McCormick 78). Subs not used: St. Louis-Hamilton, Watson, Parsons.

WEST BROM: Bateman, Mason, Baker, Wallwork, Forsyth, Davies, Evans, Worrall, Elvins (Nardiello 63), Morrison (Labadie 38), Compton. Subs not used: McGovern, Nicholls, Lake-Gaskin.