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Rushden & Dmnds 0 - 0 Droylsden

2/ 4/2008

THE Bloods earned their first away point of 2008, one which was deserved for a battling display at Nene Park.

They suffered an early blow when Dale Johnson limped out of action after five minutes with a recurrence of the hamstring injury that had curtailed his pre-Easter performance at Grays Athletic.

It was Chris Denham who managed the game’s first effort on target, easily saved by Dale Roberts, before Robbie Talbot fired a yard wide from the edge of the box on the quarter-hour.

Droylsden survived claims of handball against Denham in his own area before Fearns pulled another shot wide of the target.

Although Rushden enjoyed spells of possession, Paul Phillips was a virual spectator until the 37th minute when the ball held up in the strong wind.

That allowed Andy Burgess to loop a header goalwards and force Phillips into backpedalling before tipping the ball over.

That was the end of the first-half chances, but almost straight from the restart, Phillips had to be out quickly to block Andy Gooding.

Burgess spurned two further opportunities before Denham’s run and shot saw Roberts parry the ball away with no Bloods player on hand to convert.

Denham again forced Roberts into action after holding off Chris Hope, while Greg Strong’s header failed to test the home keeper as Droylsden looked the likelier of the two sides to snatch a last-gasp winner.

However, there were to be no goals for the Northamptonshire faithful, nor the loyal travelling Droylsden contingent to cheer.

Attendance: 1,186