Pre-season friendly; Forest Green 1 Bristol City 1

FOREST Green could not repeat last year's 4-1 trouncing of Championship side Bristol City as both sides cancelled each other out in a typically placid pre-season friendly.

Former City defender Darren Jones was given the Forest Green armband following Michael Brough's departure and he fired his side into the lead with a 32nd minute free-kick, but the visitors hit back seven minutes into the second half through striker Steve Brooker.

New signings Lee Fowler, Andy Mangan, Kaid Mohamed and Conal Platt started for Forest Green but Gavin Williams was sidelined for Gary Johnson's men with injury.

Bristol City carved open the first opening after 11 minutes when Cole Skuse flicked on Lee Johnson's corner from the left, but neither Louis Carey or James Wilson could get on the end of it at the far post.

On the half hour Kaid Mohammed chipped a pass over to fellow debutant Conal Platt, whose fierce shot was tipped over by Chris Weale.

Two minutes later, Jones smashed a 20-yard free kick through a feeble wall and into the net.

The half time whistle blew just after the impressive Alex Lawless played a neat one-two with Andy Mangan and his shot from 20 yards rattled back off the post.

Almost two new sides came out for the second half, with Forest Green giving opportunities to many Hartpury College youngsters including former Slimbridge striker Mike Symonds. Ex-Wanswell Wanderers youth player Christian Ribeiro replaced Bradley Orr at right-back for City.

After 52 minutes the visitors equalised when Lee Trundle laid the ball off to his strike partner Brooker, who rifled the ball into the bottom right corner from ten yards.

On 65 minutes Jamie McCombe had Terry Burton scrambling to his right with a header from Kevin Betsy's corner, but the goalkeeper tipped the ball wide.

Les Afful looked to conjure up some magic when he attempted a shot from 25 yards and Chris Weale had to be at full stretch to tip the ball onto the crossbar.

After 82 minutes City winger Michael McIndoe forced a good save out of Burton from close range, and three minutes later at the other end, tricky youngster Isaac Shaze saw a shot from 22 yards drift just past the post.

Gazette star man: Alex Lawless - Revelled in his role playing just off the front man and was a constant threat to the Championship giants.

Forest Green 1st half: Robinson, Williams, Stonehouse, Jones , Hardiker (Ashford 44), Fowler, Smith, Lawless, Mangan, Mohamed, Platt.

Forest Green 2nd half: Hinchelwood, McDonald, Ashford, Molyneaux, Afful, Pitman, Shaze, Symonds, Smith (Mangan, 82), Platt (Mensah, 60).

Bristol City (1st half): Weale, Orr, B Wilson, Skuse, J Wilson, Carey , Sproule, Johnson, Adebola, Williams, Barnes.

2nd half: Weale, Plummer, Artus, Ribeiro, McCombe, Fontaine, McIndoe, Betsy, Brooker, Trundle, Barnes (Williams, 75).

Referee: Sam Lewis.

Attendance: 1,822.

Debut watch: Lee Fowler - Combative midfielder made some good challenges.

Andy Mangan - Did an admirable job up front on his own, linking up well with the midfield.

Kaid Mohamed - Made some good runs down the right but final ball often let him down.

Conal Platt - Most impressive of the debutants. Looked lively and came close to scoring on a couple of occasions.