Rushden and Bristol City battled out a draw at Nene Park in an open encounter.
Diamonds took the lead as early as the third minute Onandi Lowe saw his header hit the inside of the post and, although goalkeeper Steve Phillips tried to clear off the line, Daniel Talbot forced the ball home for his first goal for the club.
On five minutes Rushden almost went further ahead when Lowe's free-kick from 35 yards out was parried by Phillips and he did well to block John Dempster's follow up shot.
Bristol began to get more into the game and began to create some chances but nothing clear-cut. On 19 minutes Aaron Brown made a strong run into the box, but his shot was well wide.
After 36 minutes Lee Peacock raced into the box but Barry Hunter made a fine saving tackle, before, on the stroke of half time, Andy Burgess almost scored Rushden's second when he curled a shot inches past the post.
In the 56th minute Luke Wilkshire's cross was headed wide by Lee Miller when perhaps the City striker should have done better.
After 63 minutes Lowe almost got on the end of a Paul Underwood free-kick, but his shot was blocked and from the resultant corner Lowe saw his goal bound shot hit his own colleague Hunter.
Following a period of sustained pressure the Robins equalised in the 70th minute when Peacock crossed and, although Dempster blocked Miller's first effort, the striker hit the rebound home.
A minute later home keeper Jamie Ashdown produced a magnificent save to prevent Brian Tinnion from putting the visitors ahead.
In the 80th minute Brown headed just over, before the match ended dramatically with Gary Mills being sent off for his second bookable offence, after he upended Wilkshire just outside the box.