Didcot Tn 0

Fleet Tn 0

Didcot Town had to settle for their second consecutive goalless draw in Division 1 South & West at a rain-soaked Loop Meadow on Saturday.

The home side should probably have won the game after creating a series of good chances, particularly in the second half, but had Fleet's Mark Anderson converted two gift-wrapped opportunities they could have finished with nothing to show for their efforts.

Arguably the best chance of the entire game came within the first ten seconds.

Didcot's Richard Peirson mis-directed a back-header and Anderson, standing unmarked on the edge of the penalty box, placed his shot yards over the crossbar.

The home side enjoyed plenty of early possession in the driving rain and played some entertaining football.

A terrific move involving Richard Witt and Paul Powell ended with Jack King testing Fleet's keeper Paul Smith with a low shot from 20 yards.

At the other end Didcot keeper Michael Watkins then had to pull off a brilliant save to deny the impressive Phillip John.

Michael Bartley's pace and persistence were causing problems for the Fleet defence and a typically direct run resulted in a free-kick on the edge of the penalty box.

John shot wide for the visitors before Didcot almost got the breakthrough moments from the interval.

Bartley's shot was parried by Smith and Andy Parrott, following up, was stunned to see Smith somehow deflect his effort round a post.

The first attack after the break saw Didcot's Andy Williams force the ball home from Richard Witt's corner, but the referee had spotted an infringement and Fleet were able to clear their lines.

A brilliant piece of skill from Powell, beating three players inside the Fleet box, presented Parrott with a free header which he put agonizingly wide.

In the 74th minute Bartley missed with a left-foot shot when he only had Smith to beat.

A minute later, Powell missed a glorious chance, again with the goal at his mercy and only 12 yards out, when he screwed his shot inches wide of the far post.

Peirson headed another chance wide and with the last shot of the game, Matt Bicknell thrashed the ball inches over the from the edge of the box.

Didcot Tn: Watkins, Heapy, Bicknell, Williams, Peirson, Jack (Small-King 62), Witt, King (Hope 74), Bartley, Parrott, Powell.

Att: 219