Clanfield 0 Colden Common 0

BREEZY Peel Park hosted an important meeting between league leaders Clanfield and hopefuls Colden Common on Saturday, but neither could manage a goal.

With a strong wind blowing across a bumpy, sloping pitch it always looked as if the result would be decided by a mistake. It's a tribute to both defences that, after 90 minutes, neither side had made the crucial error.

Common had the edge throughout, in terms of both possession and chances. Joe Hodge made some penetrating runs down the left, but an excellent Clanfield back four marshalled well by Greg Kirby was able to keep keeper Gary Wiseman's workload to a minimum.

Wiseman did have to make a few saves, though; after 75 minutes, he worked a miracle to block Dean Higgins' shot with his legs from close range.

Shortly afterwards, Higgins fired in another shot that was too hot to handle. The ball fell conveniently for Richard Lang, but the normally deadly Common striker somehow managed to hit the bar rather than the back of the net from just a few yards.

Common's own back four of Sean Lahey, Simon Lemon, Stuart Curtis and Jim Hart were, if anything, even more impressive than their counterparts. Keeper Marc Cole didn't have a save to make, Clanfield's best chance coming when Luke Pettit fired wide after a move involving Gary Lovett and Jimmy Hickley.

The result didn't shed much light on the destiny of the title race. Common were disappointed not to take all three points, but if they can continue to visit top clubs and come away without their keeper being tested, then their ambitions may prove the more realistic.