Exeter City couldn’t make it a perfect six out of six as they ended their Premier League U21 Cup campaign with a draw. Despite playing for more than 80 minutes against Bristol City’s ten men, the clash at St James Park finished 2-2.

Jay Bird put City ahead with just two minutes played. Raph Araoye was then sent off for a professional foul for Bristol City after only seven minutes.

But the young Robins rallied and Kai Churchley and Olly Thomas finished neatly to put them 2-1 up after 17 minutes. The Grecians dominated, and while Liam Oakes lashed home an equalizer midway through the second half, they couldn’t find a winner.

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The Grecians, though having won all their first five matches, were already through as group winners. For the Robins, they needed to better Bromley’s result to progress, but with the Ravens winning 3-0 away to Norwich City, the League Two side finished second, and would be one of the seven best runners-up who progressed.

Harry Lee was in goal for City. Charlie Cummins, Ed James and Louis Cayless were the back three. Tom Dean and Mitch Beardmore the wing-backs. Oakes, Gabe Billington and Reece Cole were in midfield, with Pedro Borges behind Bird. Cole was involved in a matchday squad for the first time in six weeks after injury. Sonny Cox, another on the comeback trail, was on the bench.

City started quickly and with only two minutes played, they were ahead. Exeter broke nicely down the right, Dean whipped in a low cross, and Bird arriving onto it smashed home the finish first time for 10 yards out to make it 1-0.

It could have been two moments later. Borges this time with the cross, but Bird at the near post couldn’t poke home. In the eighth minute, the task for Bristol City was made a lot harder as they were reduced to ten men. Bird chased a long ball and got the wrong side of Araoye. The young defender pulled down the City striker just outside the box, leaving referee Ross Martin with no choice but to brandish the red card.

But two minutes later, ten men equalised. Thomas broke down the right and cut the ball back to Churchley on the edge of the area, sweetly struck the finish which nestled right in the corner, beating the dive of Lee.

And with 17 minutes gone, the ten men of the Robins went ahead. Cayless mis-controlled a ball back to him and that allowed Thomas to rob him of it. He drove forward and from the edge of the box rolled the finish in off the post.

Oakes thought he had levelled up, only to be denied by a brilliant save by Stefan Bajic. From the resulting corner, Cole’s teasing delivery went straight in, only for the goal to be ruled out for a foul on the goalkeeper.

Bird then was brilliantly denied by Bajic after a beautiful cross from Beardmore. Dean’s follow-up was cleared off the line. The Grecians were on top but couldn’t find the equalizer at half-time.

Max Edgecombe and Cox replaced Cayless and Oakes at half-time. Cox did well to fashion a chance for himself, but flashed the strike well wide. James saw a header from a corner cleared off the line as the Grecians were threatening.

And in the 62^nd minute, they did level. Beardmore danced into the box and cut it back to Oakes who from the edge of the area lashed a stunning finish right into the top corner. The goalkeeper had no chance and it was an incredible strike.

Five minutes later City should have led. Dean’s cross was whipped in with pace, Cox was unmarked, but his glancing header went just wide. Kieran Wilson replaced Cummins with 20 minutes to go.

It was one-way traffic as Exeter looked for the winner, with Beardmore and Wilson both coming close. David Perkins replaced Dean for the final seven minutes, and came close to the winner, but his effort was blocked. Bird then from close range poked just over the bar after a fizzing cross from Oakes, Borges then hit the side netting.

Seven minutes were added-on and Bird came close to winning it. Wilson then saw Bajic make a brilliant stop to deny him, before Borges lashed over. It finished 2-2, but City will be at home in the last 16 of the competition.