A brace from captain Steph Houghton had put Nick Cushing’s side deservedly in control, but the hosts battled to claw themselves back into the game as a Jess Clarke penalty and an injury-time Rachel Williams strike levelled the score.
Although the home side produced a spirited display, City had several chances to increase their lead and found County goalkeeper Carly Telford difficult to beat.
The result ends the Blues’ winning streak but keeps them in title contention ahead of their final four league games at the Academy Stadium.
The visitors headed into the clash eager to maintain their 100% record in the second half of the season and desperate to keep themselves in the title hunt.
As the domestic season nears its conclusion, Cushing’s side knew every point picked up from now on will be crucial in the hunt for the FA Women’s Super League crown – and three would be priceless.
In that knowledge, the City boss made just one change to the side that had defeated Sunderland, Arsenal, Durham and Chelsea, with Keira Walsh making her return to the starting line-up after a lengthy injury in place of Paula Radtke.
A total of nine England internationals started the game, with Houghton, Karen Bardsley, the reverse fixture ended in a 1-1 draw. This one would be no different.
Full of confidence, the Blues started brightly in a feisty opening 45 in which neither side shied out of a tackle. Within the first ten minutes, both teams had picked up a yellow card apiece as Houghton and Greenwood were cautioned.
The first chance of the afternoon fell to Daphne Corboz after just two minutes. The American under-23 international tried her luck from distance with a volley, which flew over the bar.
Demi Stokes and Scott then stung the palms of Telford, before Bronze unleashed a half-volley which was just too high.
Nikita Parris was then denied by Telford after an excellent team move ended with Isobel Christiansen playing the striker through, and the hosts grew in confidence with each of City’s missed opportunities.
After a spell of pressure for the home side, which did not yield any clear-cut chances, the visitors regained their composure and pressed to give themselves a half-time lead.
Once again, Telford proved a thorn in City’s side, tipping over Parris’ attempt from the edge of the area, before the breakthrough came a minute before the break.
From the resulting corner, pinball ensured in the box and when White struggled to clear, skipper Houghton smashed the ball into the bottom corner, despite the attempts of Amy Turner to clear off the line.
Moments later, Parris almost doubled the advantage but headed onto the post and the visitors went into the break with a slender –but deserved – lead.
Nine minutes into the second half, City had their two-goal cushion. When Christiansen was upended 25 yards from goal, the referee awarded a free-kick in what looked to be a promising position to float in a dangerous cross – but the skipper had other ideas.
Having already found the net once in the game, Houghton fancied her chances of doing so again and unleashed a wonderful curling effort into the top corner.
Corboz then saw an shot tipped away before the hosts clawed themselves back into the game after another period of pressure.
After Desiree Scott had fired off-target and Clarke had lobbed over Bardsley only for Jennifer Beattie to clear, the home side were handed a lifeline when they were awarded a penalty for handball against Bronze.
Clarke stepped up to power home the spot-kick, making for a nervy final ten minutes for the Blues. And matters would be made worse.
In a bid to find a late equaliser, the home side peppered Bardsley’s goal with long-range shots. They found a leveller in the dying seconds as Williams raced clear before slotting into the bottom corner.
It was a disappointing end to a game in which the visitors had looked in control of - but the Blues are not out of the title race just yet. Home advantage could prove crucial in the remaining clashes.
Next up for City is a trip to Everton in the Continental Cup on Thursday 27 August (7:30pm).
