The visitors served their intent that they were not taking any prisoners from the off but it was Chris Seargeant who went into the book first following a foul on Dale Evans that had been simmering from a clash minutes earlier.
However, five Neat
h players saw yellow from lenient official Darren Aide who incensed home fans three minutes from time when Craig Morris dashed out of his area to flatten sub Karl Noon and receive just a booking.
Paul Smith almost gifted the visitors a goal after just three minutes when he miscued a clearance to Andy Hill, who squared the ball to Matthew Rees, but the City cusodian redeemed himself by saving with his legs.
Morris was Neath's saviour on five minutes later when he superbly pushed a venomous Marc Limbert strike over the bar following a cross from Sion Edwards.
Mike Walsh was just inches away from a touch on a Les Davies header from Limbert's free kick three minutes later, but the home goal came on 24 minutes when Seargeant went through three challenges to beat Morris from 18 yards.
Seargeant's enterprise almost produced another six minutes later when his quickly taken 45 yard free kick had Morris desperately back pedalling but the ball just cleared the bar, and the City midfielder also went close with a twenty yard strike.
Neath were quickly out of their blocks in the second period with the wind behind them and Smith had to push over a miscued Hoy header and moments later Chris Pridham fired at Smith from close range.
Jack Jenkins made a crucial interception of a Les Davies low cross at the near post midway through the second period, and Hoy had a piledriver held at the seciond attempt by Morris.
However, Neath levelled with a goal out of the blue on 72 minutes as defender Lee Bevan swivelled 18 yards out to rifle home a goal in the Les Davies mould.
Jarrod Price, Hill and sub Carl Shaw all went close in the space of two minutes after City reorganised following a double substitution, but a long ball forward found Noone just outside the box, but he was taken out by Morris and Limbert's free kick was headed off the line by Cronin for a corner.
Limbert's flag kick saw Mike Walsh head just wide, but the draw was only enough to secure fifth spot as Port Talbot's 3-1 verdict over Llangefni Town gave them their best ever finish.
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