The first half was positive enough with Danny Crow getting a couple of early chances, the first after a fine through ball from Lee Blackburn. Halmstads also had a couple of chances, Joe Lewis saving after a corner and Christoffer Andersson shooting over the bar when well placed.
City took the lead in the 26. minute. Greg Crane won a header at the far post and put the ball back across the face of the goal where David Tyrie was well placed to glance the ball home. Crane suffered a worrying head injury a few minutes later after a collision with his own goalkeeper. Despite wanting to play on it was clear that Greg would not be able to play no further part in the game and David Chick moved to centre-back, with Jake Osborne taking over at left-back.
Greg Crane draws 3 defenders and elegantly puts the ball back across for the first goal
This Matt Watts header bounced up and over the bar
Adam Smith forced a couple of good saves and Lee Blackburn tried his luck with an overhead kick. Matt Watts had a header bounce over the bar from the hard playing surface before in the 80th minute Halmstads took a rare chance from a corner to score the equaliser.
City had played well and created a dozen clear chances but today was not their day. With Halmstads having drawn their first group game, the pressure was now on City to beat Lyngby in their second group match to secure a place in the semi-finals.
City line up: Lewis, Willis, Chick, Crane [J. Osborne 33], Tyrie, Smith, Howell [Howlett 75], Blackburn, Clarke, Crow, Eagle [Watts 46].
Subs not used: A. Osborne, Fisk, Gusterson.
