ALTRINCHAM battled hard to earn a point on home soil despite drawing a blank against play-off hopefuls Harrogate Town.

There was little to distinguish the teams in a disappointing spectacle.

Still without five of their first-team squad, who were injured, Altrincham were looking to put behind them their insipid midweek performance at Hyde in the Cheshire Senior Cup.

And the Robins certainly did that, with a battling performance against the well-resourced Yorkshiremen, who will go full-time next season.

The first-half saw injuries to Alty defender John Cyrus and Town's Simon Ainge and both players had to don head strapping to allow them to play on after a clash of heads in just the fifth minute.

Town also lost their keeper Peter Crook to injury after a collision with Alty striker Micah Evans.

But it was to be a game largely devoid of quality or goalmouth action, though Alty's Tim Deasy was the busier keeper.

His smart save with his feet, from a Luke Shiels header, halted Town's best effort.

At the other end, Evans' turn and shot, which cleared the bar, was the Robins' best chance.

ALTRINCHAM: Deasy, Lynch, Cyrus, Moult, Clee, Jones, Richman, Brownhill, Lawrie, Newby, Evans. Subs: Patterson, McWilliams, Reeves, Taylor, Goodall.