Burley Trojans 0, Town Reserves 0

Both sides deserved great credit for successfully overcoming the difficult conditions to play out an entertaining draw on Saturday. As the scoreline suggests there was not a great deal of goalmouth action but this did not detract from a full blooded derby encounter.

The first-half was very evenly matched with neither side able to muster a clear opportunity between them. Home 'keeper Chris Hargreaves dealt comfortably with everything that Town threw at him whilst in reply Trojans best moment came just before the interval when the talented Chris Wheeler forced Ian Taylor into a smart tumbling save.

Trojans, having ended the first- half on top, continued in the same vein after the break as they made light of the heavy pitch to string a number of fine passing moves together.

From one of these Wheeler found Ian McKain who slipped the ball through for James Hoskin but again Taylor was equal to it as he gathered at the second attempt to foil the Trojans' midfielder. The in form Jonny Lofthouse was causing a lot of problems with his trickery but he was well marshalled by the Town defenders.

A rare slip by Stuart Dibb let in Chris Alderson but Hargreaves saved brilliantly at full stretch and Dibb then atoned for his earlier error with a brave block to deny Ben Kelly as he shaped to shoot.

The dangerous Peter Dinsdale had Town's best chance as he eluded his marker to fire in a low angled drive. Hargreaves did well to turn it against the post and as Alderson attempted to slot home the rebound Kieren Hanogue reacted quickly to turn his goalbound effort to safety.

Hanogue was once again Trojans' best player and with Dibb restored alongside him in central defence Trojans have a much more solid look about them.

Trojans felt that they were denied a penalty when Matt Vosper clearly handled on the edge of his own area but with the pitch markings almost impossible to see referee Graham Morris was unable to decide where the offence took place.

He took the common sense option of awarding a free-kick outside the area. Mr Morris and his two assistants handled affairs well, particularly in the second- half as things became a little heated and any seasonal goodwill evaporated.

Alderson, always a threat when he dropped deep for the ball, picked out Dinsdale with a fine crossfield pass but the pacy Chris Lloyd muscled in to nick the ball away and avert the danger.

In truth as the game wore on there only appeared to be one winner as Town asserted themselves more and more with Bobby Johnson influential in midfield but despite a number of substitutions and positional changes they were unable to land the killer blow.

Trojans have now failed to score in their last two fixtures and the lack of firepower in the absence of leading marksman Chris Connolly is proving a headache for manager Chris Worts as his side try to improve on their mid-table position.

l Trojans travel to Harrogate on Saturday to take on a resurgent Harold Styans, kick-off 2pm, players meet at the Cricket Club at 12.45pm.

Trojans Reserves return to action when they entertain league leaders Horsforth St Margaret's, kick off 2pm, players meet at the Cricket Club at 1.15pm.