YORK City Academy were held to a 1-1 draw at Wigginton Road by their Stockport County counterparts.

Jonny Shepherd's penalty gave City the lead going into the break in the National League Under-19 Alliance encounter, but it was cancelled out with just over a quarter of an hour to go.

The young Minstermen sit fifth in the table, five points ahead of Stockport having played a game more.

City got off to a quick start at Wigginton Road, winning and scoring a penalty after just 10 minutes. Shepherd smashed the spot kick down the middle.

Lively winger Josh Knowles came close to doubling City's lead midway through the half but his effort was well blocked by a Stockport defender.

County looked to respond shortly after with a curling effort which went over the bar from the edge of the area before a midfielder and a defender were shown yellow cards.

Two more cautions - one for dissent - followed as the game approached half-time, with the visitors again sending an effort over the bar to close out the first period.

Knowles came close to doubling City's advantage just after the break when he saw his effort from Kieran Clayton's cross turned away by a fingertip save.

A couple of minutes after, Jack Degruchy struck the crossbar from close range, before Ben Dale drew a smart save from the visiting stopper when he flicked on Billy Gordon's corner.

But with 16 minutes to go, Stockport found the equaliser from a free kick out wide which keeper Michael Hogan was unable to hold.

Clayton came close to restoring City's lead with eight minutes remaining but his header cleared the bar.