Spalding United draw with Royston Town in the Southern League Premier Division Central
Spalding stretched their unbeaten Southern League run to 11 games despite being held to a goalless home draw by Royston Town on Saturday.
The visitors frustrated the Tulips for large parts of the Premier Division Central clash with Spalding lacking the required guile to break down a disciplined and well organised Royston side.
The Tulips made two changes to their starting line-up from the win over Stratford Town last weekend with Sam Cartwright and James Clifton replacing Darnell Johnson and Kieron Freeman.
Royston, like Spalding, had been one of the form teams in the division before suffering back-to-back defeats against Harborough and Halesowen in their last two games.
The visitors made life difficult for the Tulips in an even first half as Spalding failed to start with the same attacking vigour as the previous Saturday.
James Clifton headed an early chance over at full stretch from a Joe Nyahwema cross which proved to be the best opening of the first period.
Bart Cybulski headed wide from a Glenn Walker cross while Dan Lawlor's corner picked out Sam Cartwright whose effort was safely gathered by Royston goalkeeper Jamie Head.
The Crows carried an attacking threat of their own but Walker and Nathan Fox both made crucial blocks from rapid raids while Liam Moore and Cartwright were strong at the heart of the home defence.
Spalding came out for the second half looking to build up some attacking momentum and Nyahwema dragged an early shot wide.
Ex-Tulip Luke Johnson - who started this campaign with Spalding - hooked a shot wide at the other end but, as the half progressed, the chances started to dry up again for both sides.
Royston's game management stalled any impetus that Spalding tried to build up while the home's side decision-making and passing failed to hit the heights of recent weeks as the game petered out into a stalemate.
Spalding: Chapman, Walker, Fox, Moore, Cartwright, Lawlor, Sembie-Ferris (Hudson), Clifton, Cybulski, Sani (Leshabela), Nyahwema (Brown). Sub not used: Ngandu.
Attendance: 495.