Nantwich Town recorded their second clean sheet of the season as they were held to a 0-0 away at Workington Town, writes Richard Scott.
But it could have been so different as Dabbers striker Aaron Burns (pictured) had a penalty saved at the end of the first half.
At the other end of the pitch, debutant goalkeeper David Stevenson was able to keep a shutout.
Nantwich started the game well, as they tried to open up their hosts.
They were almost in on goal on nine minutes when Burns teed up Iain Howard. However, the midfielder was tackled in the box as he looked to go through on goal.
Workington’s first chance came on 16 minutes when Adam Telfer tried to get through the Nantwich back line, but his shot was wide of Stevenson’s post.
The game settled into an end to end contest with both teams making probing runs, but neither could get through for a chance on goal.
Howard could have opened the scoring on 25 minutes when after some persistence from Steve Jones his looping cross found Burns who fired it into the box towards Howard.
The midfielder’s shot was blocked by the Workington defender as it headed goalwards.
Howard could have scored on 42 minutes when the former Chester FC midfielder cut in from the byline and tried a shot but it was an easy save for Jonny Jamieson.
Workington could have taken the lead moments before half time when sub Matt Tymon went through on goal but his shot from outside the area went over Stevenson’s bar.
Nantwich should have gone ahead in the final seconds of injury time in the half when midfielder Adam Pepper made a probing run into the box only to be brought down leaving the referee no option to give the spot kick.
However, Burns’ penalty was saved by Jamieson in goal for The Reds.
The first real chance of the second half fell to the hosts when a Gavin Skelton cross found Tymon, but he could only head wide of the goal.
Nantwich had an excellent chance to go ahead when a corner was headed goal ward by Sam Wilson and it bounced to Mat Bailey.
The big centre back’s header was cleared off the line and bounced out to Steve Jones who hit the bar and it went out for a goal kick.
Tymon then had a chance on 57 minutes when he was played through but he hit his shot well over Stevenson’s bar in what was a frustrating day for the Workington man.
Nantwich could have had two penalties in a space of a few seconds. Firstly, Harrop was brought down as he advanced into the area but the ref didn’t blow up.
Then Steve Jones chased the loose ball as it was going out, only for him to be brought down by the keeper. Again, the referee did not point to the spot.
Workington skipper Dan Wordsworth could have scored an own goal, when he sliced his clearance from a Harrop cross, but it landed in the hands of a grateful Jamieson.
Mark Jones could have had his second goal of the season on 71 minutes when Burns set his captain up, but his shot flew over the bar.
As the half went on, Howard tried his luck from distance but his shot was deflected wide for a corner, the ball was headed goalwards by Mark Jones but it was cleared by the hosts.
In the final five minutes Stevenson had a free kick just inside the Workington half, which forced another corner, however there was a delay to the game as the Workington keeper injured himself as he collided with his own team mate.
In the first minute of injury time Adam Jones had a header from a corner, but it was saved by the keeper as the game headed towards full time.
Despite having more shots and chances the game ended in a stalemate.
The Dabbers are next in action this Tuesday (October 7) as they welcome Marine AFC to the Weaver Stadium, kick off is 7.45pm.
Nantwich Town FC: Stevenson, Wilson, White, M.Jones (C), Bailey, S.Jones, Pepper, Burns, Howard and Harrop.
Subs: Lycett, Blake, Winslade (On for S.Jones, 69 minutes), Meaney (On for Pepper, 47 minutes) and Clayton.
(pic courtesy of Simon J Newbury Photography)
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