Chasetown 0 Stamford 0
The red-hot weather seemed to stifle Chasetown's performance in a lacklustre goalless draw with Stamford AFC in the UniBond First Division South.
Chances at goal were certainly at a premium, with both sides' defences cancelling each other out on Saturday.
After a fairly steady start in the heat, the Scholars began to display some pace down the left with Danny Smith looking his usual determined self but Stamford were well up to the task.
On 15 minutes a low cross from Danny Matson found Ricky Miller in front of goal, but some robust defending by Chris Slater kept him from shooting and goalkeeper Martin Taylor was able to clear.
The hosts had marginally the upper hand thereafter, although the lively Lee Beeson was causing them a few problems in midfield.
Taylor was forced into action again on 28 minutes as Stamford broke through once again.
Smith seemed certain to score as a long ball from the right found him perfectly placed at the far post, but Dave Burton-Jones somehow cleared off the line.
A dangerous free-kick from the left was headed over by Gary Birch on 36 minutes and Taylor hung onto Beeson's kick as half-time approached with no clear-cut chances for either side.
The second half began in similar fashion before Liam Hook fired over on 51 minutes and Smith was beaten by the offside flag. Slowly the pace of the game began to increase.
Taylor dived at full stretch to punch Beeson's free-kick round the post on 56 minutes, while the latter just failed to connect with Miller's cross five minutes later.
A free-kick from substitute Mark Branch on the right then came to nothing and the Scholars were certainly struggling to find chances at goal.
Stamford keeper Danny Bircham stopped a run by Grant Ryan in the 71st minute, while Richard Batchelor made his return from injury to the approval of the crowd as he replaced Gary Birch to bolster the Chasetown frontline.
David Cobb then cleared only as far as Smith but he blasted his right-footed shot wide of the target, and slowly Stamford began to creep forward without any major threat.
A rare Chasetown chance came in the 82nd minute when Ryan beat Bircham but placed his shot inches wide of the post.
A cross from Branch flew too far and Bircham made his first real save of the half to deny Ryan in the closing minutes.
Chasetown are next in action on Saturday as they travel to Mickleover Sports (3pm).
Chasetown: Taylor, J Branch, Milligan, Slater, Thomas, Teesdale (c), Holland, Bragoli, Birch, D Smith, Egan.
Subs: M Branch (Milligan 45), Harris, Ryan (Holland 63), Batchelor (Birch 72), Woodvine.
Stamford: Bircham, Burton-Jones, Hook, Chamberlain (c), Malone, Stevenson, Beeson, Ellison, Miller, Matson, Cobb.
Subs: Gibbs (Miller 72), Stebbing (Matson 63), Sedgemore (Burton-Jones 45), Burkett, Wright (GK).
Referee: Mr J D S Mayhew
Attendance: 365
