Gainsborough Trinity recorded a second consecutive home goalless draw, as they failed to make the most of a game in hand against Ilkeston Town.
Russ Wilcox named an unchanged side from the one that drew with Warrington Rylands last time out. The only change came as George Hornshaw replaced Sisa Tuntulwana on the Trinity bench.
That draw made it five unbeaten for Gainsborough and with the visitors travelling in a poor patch of form, they would have been hopeful of making it six.
Despite their recent poor run of form, Ilkeston were still in the play-off mix prior to kick off. An impressive start to the campaign that saw them challenge those at the top has slowly unravelled, as they have slipped down the Northern Premier League table.
It took until just after the 20 minute mark for an opportunity to be fashioned. A clever bit of passing play between Javelle Clarke and Fraser Preston left the latter with a chance to strike goalwards from the left hand side. His effort was neither a shot or cross and was instead deflected out for a corner.
Ikeston did not have much to offer in attacking areas in first half, but did create the best chance of the first half an hour as a free kick was whipped in from the right. The captain Sam Parker simply had to score as he was unmarked in the centre of the box, but could only flick wide.
The first-half then petered out to a bit of a stalemate before the interval, a number of nearly perfect through balls for Howe and Clarke which summed up a frustrating first 45 for Trinity the only highlights.
Preston was the man who had an opening to begin the second-half, a brilliant turn of pace from Clarke allowed him to cross to the midfielder, but his shot was well blocked.
Ashley Jackson, who famously only scores good goals, struck a fierce volley from 30 yards in the 57th minute that flew not too far wide of the left post.
The most contentious moment came not long after that as Will Lancaster got caught on the ball in his own penalty area. In his attempt to win it back he clumsily went into the back of Harvey Kirby-Moore, prompting huge penalty appeals from the Ilkeston bench.
The referee Samuel Clayton quickly waved it away though.
Ilkeston were on top by this point and Colin Daniels may well feel he should have given his side the lead in the 66th minute. He volleyed well over the bar from close range after a delightful cross in from the right.
Kirby-Moore nearly then found the opener almost immediately after another cross from the right-hand side. His header forced Dylan Wharton into a good diving save away to his left.
With 15 minutes to play it was so nearly the moment that Declan Howe had been waiting for. A long diagonal ball found the striker and he unleashed a powerful effort that rebounded off the crossbar.
A strike from distance then was deflected inches wide at the other end for Ilkeston, as the game ebbed and flowed into the final ten minutes.
Despite those chances, in truth were without a move deserving of a goal. Neither side able to fashion a clear cut chance as Wharton got down well to save the only shot from Ilkeston in added time.
That confirmed a second consecutive home goalless draw for Trinity and it is a point which all but ends any play off hopes for Russ Wilcox’s side. They rise to 12th and host Bamber Bridge next in league action.