Stockton Town played out a goalless draw with Cleethorpes Town in a game where the strong winds made its presence known.
Michael Dunwell made one change from last week’s victory over Grantham Town, bringing Tom Coulthard back into the starting lineup in exchange of the injured Dale Mulligan.
Both temes spent the opening 10 minutes getting familiar with the conditions, with the breezy seaside winds not allowing the ball to stay on the pitch.
Mikey Roberts had the first attempt of the game in the 13th minute when his high-arcing header fell into the gloves of goalkeeper Heath Richardson.
Cleethorpes had one of their biggest chances of the game in the 19th minute when Nathan Harker’s goal-kick was blown back towards his own goal. Striker Josh Walker picked it up one-on-one but Harker made himself big and denied Walker with his feet.
The hosts were using the weather to their advantage in the first half, and from a corner had a flurry of opportunities which were kept out by the ever-standing wall of red shirts.
The Anchors were hoping for a penalty five minutes before the break when Tom Portas went to ground but their shouts fell on deaf ears.
In added time of the first half, Curtis Bateson was left in space on the left-wing and his shot was very well kept out by Nathan Harker who closed down the angle perfectly to keep the scores level at the interval.
Half-time: Cleethorpes Town 0-0 Stockton Town
Kevin Hayes had a huge chance to break the deadlock five minutes after the restart when he had a powered, acrobatic effort very well stopped by Heath Richardson.
Richardson stayed strong again 10 minutes later to deny a bicycle kick from Stephen Thompson.
The Anchors were the side now with the wind in their favour and looked the most likely to force a winner home. In the 78th minute Tom Coulthard was picked out inside the box but his header was collected by the Cleethorpes number one.
Right at the closure of the encounter, a low Lewis King cross sneaked past the sliding foot of Michael Sweet which ended up being the final chance of the affair as the scores finished level.
Full-time: Cleethorpes Town 0-0 Stockton Town
The Anchors’ lead at the top slimmed down slightly as Hebburn Town picked up a victory to make the gap 10 points with six games remaining for the Anchors, who return to the MAP Group UK Stadium next Saturday to face Carlton Town.
Stockton Town: Harker, King, Coulthard, Nicholson, McWilliams, Butterworth, Portas, Hayes, Thompson (Beddow 76’), Roberts (Sweet 76’), Fowler
Unused Subs: Baggs, Henry, Painter
Cleethorpes Town: Richardson, Gallimore, Boyd, Walker, Cooke, Middleton, Kay, Flett (Venney 81’), Walker (Adamson 84’), Annan, Bateson
Unused Subs: Jamieson, Adelekan, Robertson
Attendance: 402
Photo: Harry Cook
Words: Jordan Clarke
