South Shields Women were held to a scoreless draw on their travels against Alnwick Town Ladies on Sunday.
It was a point gained for the Mariners in a game which appeared to have everything aside from a goal, but it means that the lasses have extended their unbeaten streak to three games.
Jen Wootten came close for Shields in the 13th minute following a sweet Daisy Sutton delivery into the penalty area, but the skipper’s touch was slightly too heavy and Alnwick’s Scarlett Gowans claimed.
Anna Yeakey pulled off a superb stop at her near post to deny number seven Chloe Young a minute later, while Sophie Greener headed on target two minutes afterwards.
An end-to-end game for the most part, it offered plenty of chances but no rewards.
Eve Jones fired over the bar soon after, having taken a touch inside the box, and then Alnwick went up the other end and flashed the post from an inswinging corner delivery.
Gowans made an excellent save later in the first half against Jones, whose shot was almost certainly going to land on target.
Taylor Straughan provided the hosts with their first second-half opportunity, though her strike from just outside the 18-yard box went over the bar.
Julie Raffel played a wonderful ball over the top to Neve Platt, and if not for some excellent sliding action from close range, Shields’ midfield maestro could have put the visitors ahead.
Yeakey punched a later corner away, but the rebound eventually found Catherine Johnston who headed narrowly wide.
Afterwards, Raffel struck on target and Gowans made a brilliant dive to her right to stop the attacker from scoring what could have been another match-winner.
Chances were created at both ends, but neither team were able to find the decisive goal.
Shields take on SJR Worksop Women next time out in the Women’s FA Cup First Round Proper – full match details will be confirmed soon.
Alnwick Town Ladies: Gowans, Foster, Mallaburn, Young, Straughan, Johnston, Greener, Henderson, White, Takher, Lawson.
Substitutes: Belisle, Acar (did not play), Farrell-Knowles (did not play).
South Shields Women: Yeakey, D. Sutton, S. Sutton, Wootten, Kubik, Legg, Raffel, Cairns, Jones, Platt, Parker.
Substitutes: Simpson (did not play), McDonald, Reynolds (did not play), Hill, Ford.