Alty 0 Salisbury City 0

7:37pm Saturday 6th September 2008

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A POINT gained felt more like two lost as Alty were held 0-0 by Salisbury.

At first glance, a draw with the league leaders seems an excellent result but delving deeper, the Robins could - and probably should - have got more.

Salisbury are occupying a false position, that much was clear, but Alty lacked the cutting edge to expose their weaknesses.

Graham Heathcote's side have now gone 354 minutes without scoring a league goal and their inability to consistently create chances is becoming a real worry.

On the other hand, the defence was magnificent.

Mark McGregor grows with every game and is beginning to show the class that earned him a successful Football League career.

Alongside him, Chris Lane was solid, while Anthony Danylyk impressed in the holding midfield role - in him Heathcote seems to have unearthed a real gem.

There was little between the teams for much of the first half.

In fact, there was little to entertain the crowd for long spells, as neither side had the requisite guile or craft to unlock the other.

It took 20 minutes for the players to muster a noteworthy effort on goal, Warren Peyton's low, skimming free kick being deflected wide from 35 yards.

But, with 15 minutes remaining in the first half, Alty suddenly plucked a touch of inspiration from somewhere.

Dale Johnson began to make his presence felt up front, dominating the aerial battle, while Chris Denham's pace led to some uneasy moments in the visitors' defence.

Left back Scott Bartlett had no idea what to do when the Robins' winger ran at him. He was turned inside and out before Denham cut inside and fired a left-foot shot wide of the post on the half hour mark.

Bartlett was unable to stay on the field after that, such was the discomfort Denham had caused him, pulling a muscle as his limbs got tied in knots.

Just three minutes later Denham was at it again, latching onto a superb flick-on from Johnson before rifling a dangerous ball across goal. Remarkably, Johnson couldn't convert from three yards, the ball instead bouncing to safey off his shins.

But while Alty enjoyed a couple of decent chances, Salisbury could have just as easily been ahead at the break.

Powerful striker Andrew Sandell cut in from the right before unleashing a thunderbolt towards goal from 25 yards. Only the outstretched hand of Stuart Coburn denied him, the keeper turning it brilliantly behind.

Salisbury keeper James Bittner also made a super save on the stroke of half time, reacting quickly to claw away Colin Little's header from another Denham cross. The Moss Lane faithful gasped in unison, amazed their team had not made the breakthrough.

If the first half had been Alty's, Salisbury dominated the second - but without ever looking like snatching a win.

Denham should have scored, robbing Jonathan Bass to give himself a clear run on goal but his placed finish didn't have the power to beat Bittner.

But Salisbury had a string of chances.

Aaron Cook headed just over from a Liam Feeney corner and Sandell shot wide from Darrell Clarke's cross within a minute of each other.

Sandell then missed a glorious chance, heading Matt Tubbs' cross directly at Coburn after being left completely unmarked five yards out.

And eight minutes from time, Clarke flashed a shot wide after Charlie Griffin had expertly chested Feeney's cross into his path.

But, with both sides lacking conviction, a goalless draw was inevitable.

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Alty man of the match: Mark McGregor. Looking more assured with every game he plays for the Robins and will be crucial to the club's survival hopes.

His positioning was outstanding, he read the game well and, despite giving up a few inches in height to Salisbury targetman Andrew Sandell, he dealt with the aerial threat well.

Alty (4-4-2): Coburn 6; Battersby 6 (Tierney 71), McGregor 8, Lane 8, Young 7; Denham 7, Danylyk 7 (Street 75), Lawton 6, Peyton 6; Little 6, Johnson 7 (Meechan 57, 6).
Subs not used: Elam, O'Neill.

Salisbury (4-4-2): Bittner 7; Bass 6, Cook 8, Sangare 8, Bartlett 6 (Clarke 31, 7); Fowler 6, Herring 6, Turk 6, Feeney 7; Tubbs 6 (Griffin 79), Sandell 7 (Matthews 76).
Subs not used: Dutton, Davies.
Booked: Herring 45 (foul), Bittner 67 (dissent).

Attendance: 1,002