Watford 1 Bristol City 1 Shawn Goater scored a spectacular solo goal but it wasn't enough to give his Bristol City side three points in a thrilling top-of-the-table Division Two clash at Watford on Saturday.

Goater gave the Robins the lead in the 54th minute, pouncing on a long clearance just inside the Watford half and then outsprinting Hornets' defender Keith Millen before taking the ball wide of 'keeper Alec Chamberlain and slotting it into an empty net.

It was Goater's 14th goal of the season and his 13th in the league and he remains the division's second-highest marksman behind Roger Boli of Walsall.

Goater leads the division in league goals (13).

City, who started the day four points behind leaders Watford, looked as though they might snatch all three points but five minutes from time, the Hornets were rewarded for almost 30 minutes of relentless pressure when substitute Gifton Noel-Williams stabbed home the equaliser in a goalmouth scramble.

Roared on by the division's best crowd of the season -- 16,072 -- Watford surged forward in search of a winner but City held on for a valuable point.

Goater, who was involved in virtually every Robins' attack but rarely had a shooting chance in a fast-paced game, is establishing something of a reputation in England's lower leagues.

As I walked to the ground, I overheard several Watford fans hoping that Goater's recent transfer request would persuade City manager John Ward to leave him out of the line-up.

Goater was also the subject of a full-page feature in the matchday programme.

Ward was quoted as saying: "Shawn has got pace and is mobile -- that's what makes him dangerous.

"He can be quiet and then he pops up to score. He's a clean finisher and usually hits the target.

"He looks laid back but that is deceptive because he is actually good both in the air and on the ground.'' But Ward seems resigned to losing his star player. He said: "Other teams hear about players doing well so someone could come in with an offer for him. He would want to make a move up the divisions. But I also hope he could make that move with us.'' Goater and City face another vital game on Saturday when they are at home to fourth-placed Chesterfield, last season's surprise FA Cup semi-finalists.