Edinburgh City left it late to claim their first point of the season as they battled to a 2-2 draw against city rivals The Spartans.

Substitute Innes Lawson equalised in the 86th minute at Ainslie Park in North Edinburgh after the hosts went ahead just five minutes later.

After Ricky Waugh’s superb strike in the 16th minute gave the visitors the lead, The Spartans left it late with a Marc McNulty penalty on the 75th minute and a curling effort from Bradley Whyte six minutes later. Dougie Samuel’s side had thought they won it despite an impressive Edinburgh display, however substitute Innes Lawson brought the away side level.

City boss, Michael McIndoe, admitted: “If we had lost that game 2-1 today the boys would’ve been bitterly disappointed. I thought we were the better team in the first half and we probably had about 20 minutes in the second half where we edged it.”

Edinburgh City responded well after a disappointing home defeat to start the league campaign last week, losing 5-0 to Elgin City. McIndoe’s side looked to be heading for a victory before The Spartans were awarded a penalty for handball in the 75th minute.

He told The Edinburgh Reporter: “Last season, I think we would’ve lost that game 3 or 4-1 because we would’ve been a bit deflated having held the lead for so long. Momentum changes games, if you look at that game for 60 minutes we’re by far the better team and then you see the penalty going in and that lifted The Spartans.”

Ricky Waugh scored his first goal of the campaign in the 16th minute after collecting the ball from a corner at the edge of the box. The midfielder, with acres of space around him, calmly swept his shot past Spartans goalkeeper Paddy Martin leaving him no chance. The Spartans turned the game on its head in just six minutes after going on level terms, with a first-time strike outside the box by Bradley Whyte.

Dougie Samuel, manager of The Spartans, and the longest serving coach in the SPFL, said: “I think it’s always disappointing when you draw a game that you’re winning, but over the piece I thought City deserved a point. They had the better of the first half and we started the second half better, the game probably got stretched open at 2-1 and we paid the price for that.”

Last week against Annan Athletic, The Spartans left it even later to come back from a losing position. Four goals came after the 86th minute to come from 2-0 down and claim all three points at Galabank.

Samuel added: “It’s the habit of going behind I’m worried about, I don’t mind the late goals! We need to break that habit as soon as possible, because we’re not always going to be able to come from behind and take something from the game.”