Lincoln United held top of the table Redcar Athletic to a 0-0 draw as a makeshift backline held limited the Teeside outfit to very few chances.
Interim manager Dave Frecklington made four changes to the side as the Whites lined up with a back five to block out the free scoring Redcar attack.
The visitors started the brighter side in the first 20 minutes with a flurry of cutbacks from the by-line before Oscar Fletcher came closest.
Defensively solid Whites
He rose well to connect with a cross from the left to strike the crossbar of an empty goal as Heath Richardson came rushing out to collect the cross.
Five minutes later and the Steelmen almost took the lead in fortunate fashion as Jack Dando wrong-footed his goalkeeper as he attempted to head the ball back, but fortunately it bounced narrowly wide for a corner.
Richardson was called into action again with just under ten minutes of the half remaining as he dived low to his left a thunderous effort from Louis Johnson.
Redcar threatened again on the stroke of half time as a dangerous cross from the right narrowly evaded a sliding Fletcher and into the arms of Richardson.
That brought an end to the half in which the makeshift Whites were defensively solid and gave very little away while failing to threaten going forward.
Red-mist descends
However, it was the Whites who started the second half the better side as Elliot Dye caught the Redcar goalkeeper on the penalty spot and managed to win the ball back. However, he was disposed with his back to goal while he was looking for a pass.
Ten minutes later and it was the hosts that threatened again as Charlie Carlisle broke forward and found Haydn Harvis breaking through the middle.
He was brought down 30-yards from goal and Owen Vincent struck the free kick narrowly wide of the top-right corner.
Although the visitors continued to dominant possession and broke through once again just beyond the hour mark, but Richardson reacted well to turn a deflected shot over the bar from six-yards out.
From then on, the Whites continued to block the North-Eastern outfit before a quick exchange of passes allowed Mark Anderson to cut inside from the left and shoot from the corner of the penalty area but Richardson got down well to catch.
There was a late twist with five minutes of the seven added on remaining as Redcar captain Danni Lay was sent off for an elbow on United man of the match Alan Power.
That was the last action in a game of very few chances as a strong Lincoln United managed to keep a clean sheet against a side with a goal difference of 89.
Next up, the Whites travel to the North East themselves as they face up to play-off chasing side Consett next Saturday.