Witton Albion 0 Leek Town 0

UniBond Division One

WITTON blew the chance to go fourth, and into the coveted play-off spots, at a freezing Wincham Park last night, but their first goalless draw of the season stretched their unbeaten run to nine games.

They barely tested the visiting goalkeeper in a dull first half and Darrell Dicken's seventh minute shot was the only time Leek's Steve Hodgson had to warm his hands.

The home side were generally reduced to long range efforts while at the other end Leek were creating few chances of their own.

On a rare foray into the penalty area David MacPherson found himself crowded out by defenders when he should have got a shot in.

As the ground got harder the ball was spending less and less time on it as players relied on long balls and crosses to produce chances in the second half.

It almost paid dividends for Witton as Hodgson twice fumbled under his own bar, but no home attacker was on hand to punish him on either occasion.

The goalkeeper was also tested once again by Dicken in the 56th minute, while David Whittaker turned well and fired narrowly wide as Leek looked to break the deadlock.

Adam Martin had the chance to do it on 67 minutes but his shot hit the ground and Paul Gibson saved comfortably.

Then at the other end Hodgson was quickly off his line to collect Mike Moseley's glancing header with Dicken moving in for the kill.

The closest anyone came to a goal was in the 79th minute when MacPherson capitalised on a slip by Wes Simpson but saw his shot strike the outside of the post.

Then Albion had their best chance of the night when the ball flashed across the face of goal and Moseley could only turn it over the bar.

Witton: Gibson, Sandeman, Furnival, Hughes, Simpson, Cunningham, Foy, Mallinson (Pavey 81), Dicken, Moseley, Wardle (Wilcock 77). Sub not used: Paver. Attendance: 229. Star man: Darrell Dicken.

l ALBION are at Radcliffe Borough in UniBond Division One on Saturday (3pm).

Brian Pritchard remains an absentee as, while he is back from a holiday, he serves a one-game suspension.

On Monday Witton will make the third attempt to play their President's Cup quarter-final at Droylsden (7.45pm).

The winners are at home to Bamber Bridge in the last four.