Gainsborough Trinity were held to a stalemate at the KAL Group Stadium as they drew with relegation threatened Mickleover.
Trinity were denied an early penalty as Jordan Helliwell was booked for diving, but aside from that failed to create an clear cut chances.
Gainsborough were looking to build some momentum in this one following last week’s 5-1 victory over bottom of the table Blyth Spartans.
They were comfortable favourites heading into the game against a Mickleover side just one place off the bottom and winless in five before last weekend’s surprise victory over Stockton Town.
Russ Wilcox made a single change as Javelle Clarke missed out completely through illness and was replaced by Bailey Conway to create a fluid Trinity front three.
Cagey first-half:
It was a scrappy start to the game as both sides were looking to adapt to the sandy surface at The Northolme.
However, Gainsborough looked confident in possession and eventually struck the post 17 minutes in as Fraser Preston had a shot blocked. Will Lancaster picked up the loose ball and recycled it well to find Dylan Cogill on the edge of the penalty area however his shot could only find the left post.
Mickleover’s first attempt came just three minutes later as Chris O’Grady worked the ball well but could only shoot over from the edge of the area.
Just beyond the half hour mark, calls for a Gainsborough penalty were turned down by referee Mathew Wright as Preston and Helliwell linked up well down the left. He broke into the penalty area where he looked to have been brought down however, he instead found himself being penalised for simulation.
Helliwell was brought down again as he broke dangerously down the left where George Wilkinson took one for the team and found himself in the book.
Mickleover then had a penalty shout of their own turned down in the final five minutes of the half as Andy Dales broke past Lancaster before being outmuscled by the Trinity defender and going down 15-yards from goal.
That turned out to be the last act of a quiet and cagey first-half in which both sides struggled to create any clear-cut chances.
The same story in the second-half:
It was very much the same in the second-half as Mickleover started better and came close just short of the hour mark when O’Grady struck over from 20-yards out.
Trinity went straight up the other end and came close themselves as Declan Howe cut the ball back from the byline. However, Kwaku Donkor slid in well to prevent Fraser Preston from giving Gainsborough the lead.
Cogill then came close from a corner as he headed back across goal as the ball was crossed in from the left but Yusuf Mersin caught comfortably.
Sisa Tuntulwana had the best chance of the half in the final minute of normal time as the ball was crossed in from the left. It found him at the back post, but he did not quite connect properly.
Lewis Butroid then had a shooting opportunity going into additional time, though he lashed at his shot from a tight angle and fired over.
Trinity kept pushing right until the end as Butroid had another attempt blocked before Tuntulwana’s acrobatic attempt went out for a throw-in on the far side.
A frustrating afternoon for Trinity who failed to capitalise Warrington Rylands, Ilkeston Town and Guiseley AFC all dropping points in the play-off race.
Neither side created a chance that looked like it could have resulted in a goal, but next up for Trinity is an away trip to Warrington Rylands.