• Opening PDL fixture ends a draw
• Jack Parry the man on target
• Controversial ending

Crewe Alexandra started their Under-21 Professional Development League game with a 1-1 draw at home to Bristol City.

Jack Parry was the goalscorer for the Reds, who will be left devastated with a late decision going against them which led to the equaliser.

Tommy Backwell got the controversial goal after the initial shot from the Bristol City forward hit the wheel, which is attached to the goals and out to Backwell who tapped into an empty goal.

Going into the opening PDL fixture Mike Jackson was able to name a number of professionals in his starting XI which included Tom Booth, Lewis Billington, Billy Sass-Davies, Zak Kempster-Down, Owen Lunt and Max Woodcock.

Parry had the first real opportunity of the game in the 26th minute, but he lashed wide of the target.

Crewe midfielder Lewis Nolan thought he had opened the scoring when his thunderous strike whistled past the top corner of Mac Boyd's goal.

Immediately after the restart, Kempster-Down broke down the left-hand side and fired low towards the bottom corner, but Boyd stretched out a leg to deny him.

A long ball in behind the Bristol City defence found Woodcock, who did enough to get fouled by Jamie Knight-Lebet and Calum Agius placed the ball down from 20-yards. His free-kick went over the wall and crashed against the top of the crossbar and back into play.

But Crewe's pressure finally paid off when Parry found space between the two centre-halves. His touch was perfect to turn and then slot past the onrushing Boyd.

The Alex made changes as The Robins went in search of an equaliser.

Booth had to pull off two wonderful saves to deny Elijah Morrison and Backwell while Sass-Davies had to make a block on the goal line.

92 mintues on the clock and the visitors managed to pull back level. Despite the ball hitting the wheel of the portable goals, the match officials allowed the goal to stand and the spoils were shared.

Crewe: Booth; Billington, Kempster-Down, Nolan, Sass-Davies (C); Robinson, Woodcock, Lunt; Allport, Agius, Parry.

Subs: Senior, Ziglam, Leader-Williams, Moore, Jatta.

Bristol City: Boyd; Leeson, Idehen, Taylor-Clarke, Knight-Lebel, Araoye; Rose, Backwell, Yeboah; Hutton, Francois.

Subs: Churchley, Duncan, Meerholz, Morrison, Anderson.