ALTRINCHAM were left frustrated by second-bottom Stalybridge Celtic when they played out a goalless draw on Saturday.

A win for Alty would have lifted them up to third in Evo-Stik Premier but they had to settle for remaining in fifth place after a disappointing draw at a rain-swept Bower Fold.

Just like last Tuesday's impressive win at Hednesford, Alty were again without the injured John Disney, Laurence Taylor, Sean Miller and John Johnston.

But this time it was wastefulness in front of goal and a lack of guile to create clear chances that meant they had to settle for a point.

And, despite their opponents being reduced to 10 men 15 minutes from time, Altrincham could not break through.

Indeed, they were grateful to keeper Tony Thompson for a fine save from substitute Theo Bailey-Jones towards the end of the game.

That preserved an admirable run of four successive clean sheets, a sequence not achieved by Altrincham since 2003.

Perhaps Alty's best chance arrived as early as the first minute when Josh Hancock put a presentable chance past the wrong side of the post.

And, despite winning numerous corners, Altrincham failed to make any of them tell.

Altrincham themselves also finished the game with 10 men as substitute striker Josh Amis had to limp off.

He had injured himself in making an aerial challenge two minutes before the end.

The result means that Alty have not dropped a single point in six matches against teams in the top half of the table yet have now managed just one win in six attempts against those in the lower half of the league.

ALTRINCHAM: Thompson, Bembo-Leta, Densmore, Hannigan, Harrison, Moult, Peers, Sheridan, Hulme, Poole, Hancock. Subs: Richman, Short, Amis, Jones, Harrop.