Gary Johnson, the manager who led Yeovil from the Conference to Division One of the Coca Cola League, returned to Huish Park with his new club and received a terrific welcome from the Glovers fans.
He also had a hot reception from the team he created and went away knowing that his City slickers were lucky to get a point.
Yeovil scored after 90 seconds when Matt Harrold and Phil Jevons combined for David Poole to score from close range. It heralded a first half totally dominated by Yeovil.
They should have scored more goals but City were kept in the game by their Brazilian keeper Adriano Basso, who made terrific saves from Harrold and Terry Skiverton in quick succession, and also from Poole.
City looked a different side after the break and confidence was boosted by an early goal. It came on 50 minutes when central defender Matt Heywood moved up for a left-wing corner and outjumped the Yeovil defence to head in Alex Russell's kick.
It was the first time in the match that the visitors had had an attempt on target.
Yeovil keeper Steve Collis made a great save from Steve Brooker five minutes later, but the action was soon switching to the other end where the Glovers just couldn't find the final touch.
Basso continued to be in the thick of the action - and provided the game's only controversial moment in the 71st minute when he was knocked out by a sliding challenge from Harrold.
The Yeovil club doctor ruled him unfit to continue but Basso refused to leave the pitch until manager Johnson ordered him off.