for next month's Auto Windscreens Shield final at Wembley when he broke a scoring drought to net his side's first goal in a 2-2 draw yesterday away to Bristol City -- the club they will meet in the final.

Lightbourne returned to the Stoke team on the weekend as they beat Blackpool 3-0, but yesterday's draw was a setback in the club's bid for a play-off spot.

Stoke are currently seventh in the standings, two points out of sixth place with eight matches remaining. The top two teams gain automatic promotion from Division Two, with the next four involved in the play-offs for the final spot.

Lightbourne equalised Tony Thorpe's 10th minute opener when he converted a cross from top scorer Peter Thorne at the near post. Six minutes earlier the Bermudian had blasted a 25-yard effort just over Steve Phillips' crossbar.

In what was a dress rehearsal for the Wembley final, Stoke gradually began to assert their authority on the game, and took the lead six minutes before the break through Graham Kavanagh's ninth goal of the season.

But Shaun Goater's former team were not to be denied and scored the equaliser in the 77th minute when Thorpe netted his second goal of the game.

A 70,000 crowd is expected for the April 16 Auto Windscreens final. The two clubs are being allotted 35,000 tickets each and on the first day of ticket sales yesterday, Bristol City sold no fewer than 11,000.

Stoke have won the toss for choice of colours and will be wearing their usual red and white stripes, while Bristol City, who also wear red and white, are having a new gold and navy blue strip tailored for the occasion.

Kyle Lightbourne: scored Stoke's first goal in a 2-2 draw with Bristol City.