Alfreton Town 0 Worcester City 0

THE suspension of striker Lee Hughes continues to weigh heavily on goal-shy Worcester City as they failed to breach arguably the weakest defence in Vanarama National League North.

Alfreton Town have struggled to keep the back door shut this season having conceded 62 goals in 24 games – a wretched record only matched by bottom club Altrincham.

But without top scorer Hughes City posed little threat at the Impact Arena, meaning they have hit the net just once in three games since the 40-year-old’s four-match ban kicked in.

Colby Bishop went the closest with a header and many will argue the ball crossed the line before Niall Heaton hacked it clear.

But that was their only shot on target in a dismal contest which ended with City picking up their eighth red of the season when Cieron Keane received a second yellow card.

On the positive side, Worcester were resilient at the back and goalkeeper Ethan Ross saved a penalty for the second game in a row.

On this occasion Ross gifted Alfreton the opportunity when he fumbled Mark Shelton’s cross before clumsily tripping Paul Clayton with his outstretched hand.

But, like he did in the 1-1 draw at Curzon Ashton last Monday, the West Bromwich Albion loanee stood firm from 12 yards out as he palmed away Craig Westcarr’s spot-kick.

Before this incident 11 minutes into the second period there was little for fans to get excited about.

When the two sides met in September they produced a thriller with City winning 5-3 but after a terrible opening period it was clear only one goal would settle this drab affair.

Alfreton made the brighter start with Paul Clayton firing an early chance wide and missing the target with a close-range header but City were digging in.

Although they did not offer much going forward, City’s central midfield trio of Ebby Nelson-Addy, Junior English and Kennedy Digie kept things tight.

The usually free-scoring Alfreton were being stifled by their opponents who were convinced they had gone in front on 64 minutes.

Bishop's header from Keane’s cross flashed beyond goalkeeper Fabian Spiess but the officials felt Heaton had done enough to deny the forward on the line.

Westcarr continued to threaten City as he steered his effort wide before Tyler Weir blocked a shot on the line as Alfreton pushed for a winner.

Despite having attacking options on the bench, manager Carl Heeley also refused to make any changes as his side hung on for a point.

But they had to see out the final moments with 10 men after Keane got booked twice in the space of seven minutes.

The Blue and Whites’ third successive draw sees them climb a place to 16th and move five points clear of third-from-bottom Bradford Park Avenue who lost 2-0 to Boston United.

However, Heeley’s men, who will be missing Hughes for next Saturday’s trip to Gloucester City, will need to find a way of ending their nine-match winless streak soon before they can start looking forward rather than over their shoulders.