The Skrill Premier

Salisbury City 0

Luton Town 0

TENACIOUS Salisbury City earned a hard-fought point against runaway leaders Luton Town in front of a bumper crowd at their home fortress.

A season’s best attendance of 2,633 – surpassing a regular gate of 800/900 - was given a well-contested match to watch despite it serving up zilch goals.

On the basis of play and chances, City will feel slightly hard done by they didn’t become the third team to overcome the elect Conference champions and ruin their 26-match unbeaten streak in the league.

The talismanic Robbie Sinclair quickly find his stride and he sent through England C man Dan Fitchett on two serious occasions, but the striker lacked composure against the experienced Mark Tyler.

The Hatters, now extending their clear cushion to 15 points, mustered sniffs at Will Puddy’s goal until the 32nd minute when the stadium froze.

Andre Gray, out of nothing, unleashed a screamer from 25-yards and it had Puddy beaten before cannoning off the upright to keep the goalless stalemate intact.

City were in full flow in the second half, on a hot day in south Wiltshire, and good work from the Sinclair brothers nearly paid off.

Chris McPhee also found himself in good positions but alas he didn’t use his nous and squandered his efforts.

The atmosphere inside the Ray Mac cranked up a notch in the remaining 15 minutes and the rowdy away bunch, 1,500 of them, urged their side on and came close to seeing their free-scoring team take the lead but striker Paul Benson was flagged offside.

The Swindon Town loanee and teammate Jake Howells could have snatched victory deep into stoppage time when they both flashed close-range efforts off target, so it finished all square.

“I’m absolutely delighted with a clean sheet against a team scoring freely,” said Mikey Harris of his side who haven’t lost at home since November.

“We matched them and it was a fairly even game, and a fair result. Maybe there’s a tinge of disappointment we didn’t take one of the chances we created.

“But all in all it’s a very good point.”

City are three points off the play-offs stuck in eighth position. They go to Forest Green Rovers, who beat Cambridge United 3-2 on Saturday, on Tuesday night (7.45pm).

“Forest will be full of confidence but hopefully we will be able to match them," he added.