Both Leek Town & Hyde United had suffered heavy losses at the weekend, so it was no surprise that both teams cancelled each other out with a game of few chances and the defenders being on top. However in the dying moments of the game it was the Blues who could have sneaked the win as the game became stretched and chances were created.

Josh Brehaut had been busy over the weekend and brought in two loan players who went straight into the starting squad of 16. The game saw the return of Ollie Heywood from Chester who was selected at left back and the entry of promising forward Dara McGuiness from Stoke City who made the bench as a substitute. Nicky Spooner, the manager of Hyde, had also chosen to rotate his squad after a very busy couple of weeks.

It was tense start by both sides, Hyde playing neat football and having much of the possession but Leek looked dangerous in counter attack using the pace of Hurst and the guile of Woolley. A very early chance falling to Woolley on the break but his shot from distance saved by Hiddleston.

Leek were having some joy down the right hand side with Shenton and Buckley combining well without creating an clear cut chances. Leek continued to pass through their opponents but the measured passes did not yield any joy.

There was little else to report until the latter stages of the half as both sides cancelled each other out.

Hurst drove forward on 40 minutes and created space but his shot flew over the cross bar. Just before half time Billy Reeves went down under a heavy challenge from the opposition before the referee blew for half time.

HYDE UNITED 0 -LEEK TOWN 0 HT

The challenge on Reeves forced a change with Weir coming on to replace him, and with one eye on Saturdays game the precautionary switch was made. Leek started well and progressed down the left and right, Hyde counterattacked and on 55mins had a shot from Ditchfield blocked well by Heywood.

Shortly after Okome and Hall aerially challenged for a ball with Hall falling awkwardly, a lengthy stoppage ensued resulting in the substitution of Hall for Jones-Griffiths has he limped off with the help of the Hyde backroom staff.

A few minutes later McGuiness came on for Hurst for his debut for the Blues. Almost immediately he was in the action when Weir produced a good ball from the left and McGuinness produced a glancing header across the box.

On 70mins Leek were a little lucky as Visser was a little too casual with the ball at his feet and Conor Heath charged down his clearance for the ball to go behind for a goal kick. This was a good spell for Hyde with Heath producing two efforts in quick succession, the first drifting wide and then a neat turn in the middle with a shot from the edge of the box which the South African stopper dealt with calmly.

Brehaut then introduced Grice into the action at the expense of Okome who had worked hard all night, the game swung a little with Leek having their best spell of the match. Firstly some good work from Shenton and then a nice one -two between Heywood and Weir on the left resulting in the ball being collected by the keeper.

Grice then combined well with Shenton who found Woolley on the right, he produced a measured cut back for Weir whose goal bound effort was charged down resulting in Leeks first corner of the game. The corner was defended well and Hyde broke quickly, Weir then tackled back to stop the break resulting in a foul and yellow card.

To introduce counter attacking pace for the Blues, Curl came on for the hard working Shenton and really stretched the game down the right hand side of the pitch.

Due to the lengthy stoppage and the amount of substitutes the referee indicated 8 further minutes, and it was in this period where Leek looked most potent.

Firstly some good work from the right found Grice at the far post, who cleverly headed the ball across the face of the goal to find Woolley, however his short range header was clawed out by Hiddleston to deny Leek again.

Grice and Woolley continued to combine well and gained a corner which was defended well for a throw, the long throw then found McGuinness whose speculative shot was blocked. Leek sensed their opportunity and Harrison & Edwards both advanced, a loose ball found Edwards on the edge of the area and his strike just whistled past the post.

The final moments were frantic with Curl producing a lovely cross from the right that went begging at the far post, the counter attack resulted in Harrison taking one for the team as he brought down Thompson on the half way line.

The game ended with a final chance for Leek with Weir producing a cross from the left, Grice met the cross fully but just failed to keep it down. Hyde had one last chance but the corner was defended well by the Blues and the referee then blew for the final whistle.

HYDE UNITED 0 -LEEK TOWN 0 FT

So an excellent point away from home for the Blues, remaining unbeaten on their travels, and if not for some great saves by Hiddleston perhaps could have been all three.

REPORT BY MORENEWSFROMNOWHERE

Attention now turns to the FA Cup game against Kidderminster Harriers on Saturday, a free hit for the Blues as the Harriers are flying high in the National League North after being relegated from the National League in the previous season.