Leek Town returned from their first long trip of the season to the North-East having secured a hard fought point with a 0-0 draw at Whitby Town.

It was a game that could have gone either way with Leek the better side in the first half and their hosts edging the second but with both teams clearly lacking the necessary quality in the final third of the pitch to turn opportunities into goals.

The Leek fans had obviously chosen to make a weekend of it at the seaside and had travelled in their numbers to bolster the crowd to a healthy 546 and they saw a visiting starting eleven missing Olly Heywood as the Blues season continues to be blighted by injuries. The line up saw a rare start for Tyreece Onyeka whilst Hayden Campbell was given a starting debut.

The first chance of the game came the way of the hosts after just 4mins when a flick on from a long ball forward found Whitby dangerman Stephen Walker but his first time lob over Blues goalkeeper Dino Visser drifted well wide of the post.

Leeks first chance came on 9mins when Whitby failed to clear an Adam Porter cross following some neat build up play and the ball fell invitingly for Olly Shenton on his favoured left foot but a defender got in a vital block to deny the Blues no.10

Then, at the other end, Aaron Haswell produced a powerful driving after and unleashed a drive that bounced awkwardly just in front of Visser who could only parry it away straight to Walker, but the striker was unable to control his effort from the rebound and fired over

After this scare Leek then settled into the game and Porter, Lucas Weir and Liam Buckley were doing well in the midfield battle picking up the majority of the loose balls to move the Blues up the pitch.

Onyeka was finding space down the Leek right and causing some trouble for the Seasiders defence with his direct running but his numerous crosses were unable to find a Blues shirt although one did result in a Whitby defender screwing the ball narrowly over his own bar in an attempt to clear.

Campbell was also looking impressive in linking play and forced home goalkeeper Shane Bland into his first save of the day on 16mins. Max Woodcock was the creator having been set free down the Leek left. His first cross was blocked but when the ball came back to him he found Campbell just inside the edge of the area and his first time snapshot had to be held by Bland above his head.

The keeper produced an even better save from the same player after 21mins. Whitby had been forced to substitute Jake Charles with a worrying looking injury and from the restart Campbell picked up the ball some 25yds from goal and fired in a dipping effort looking for the top corner with Bland flying to his left to palm the ball behind for a corner which the keeper then comfortably claimed.

Shenton had an header also comfortably saved by Bland on 25mins before Weir decided to try his luck from distance after being found by an intelligent ball by Tom Curl. His driven effort beat Bland but was just a foot over the bar as Leek continued to control the passages of play.

Shenton had another header saved on 36mins after flicking on an in-swinging Weir cross before Woodcock had a great opportunity on 41mins. Weir looped the ball forward into space and Woodcock did well to win his battle for possession over his opponent to momentarily be presented with a one on one situation with Bland. However the strikers left footed effort was just the wrong side of the near post.

As the first half entered stoppage time due to Charles injury, Walker came close to giving Whitby a half time lead that would have been against the run of play. The striker turned Curl inside out on the left of the area to advance inside and looked to curl it inside Vissers far post but the ball flew wide much to Leeks relief.

WHITBY TOWN 0 - LEEK TOWN 0 HT

In some lovely autumnal seaside sunshine Whitby again created the first chance for either side when Joseph Gibson blazed over after being teed up by Walker inside the area.

Scott Butler then produced an important block at the far post from the dangerous Walkers goal bound volley to concede a corner and although the initial delivery was cleared by the Leek defence the ball was immediately returned and Adam Gell saw his effort cleared off the line by a wall of Blues shirts on 51mins

Gibson again blazed over from another chance as Whitby continued to dominate and force Leek backwards winning a number of corners an free kicks, although the pressure was momentarily lifted by a Blues counterattack, Campbell produced a lovely outside of the foot pass into the path of an onrushing Buckley and was on hand to pick up the defensive clearance from Buckleys cross but was unable to keep his effort on target.

Whitby brought on Nathan Thomas for Gell and he took a position on the Whitby right with an obvious tactic of goalkeeper Bland, every time he received the ball, hitting a quick long ball looking for the substitute.

On one such occasion, on 71mins, Butler made his one mistake of an overall very solid defensive performance when he stretched and just failed to cut out the long ball allowing Thomas to run through unchallenged and a opening goal looked certain. However, Visser came to the Blues rescue making himself large and denying Thomas with a crucial save with his legs.

As the game entered into the late stages it seemed certain that one goal would clinch it and it was Leeks own substitutes, Tom Scully and Joe Woolley, who combined to nearly achieve it on 84mins.

Scully hit a diagonal ball out to the right to Woolley who did really well to beat his man and cut into the area. His ball looking for Woodcock was poked clear but only to the backing up Scully who fired goalwards. A Whitby defender got something on the shot and it was just enough to deflect it onto the post and out for a corner.

Whitby also had a late chance of their own on 88mins through the trickery of Thomas but with team mates looking for a square ball he chose to shoot himself and Visser was able to save low down.

With both sides heavy legged having run themselves into the ground the last action of the game saw Shenton pick the ball up and manage to work a shooting opportunity but it was on his weaker right foot and did not trouble Bland to ensure the game finished goalless.

WHITBY TOWN 0 - LEEK TOWN 0 FT

So a full week for Leek to rest until they welcome Hebburn Town to the F Ball Community Stadium, you can buy your tickets online HERE

REPORT FROM WINNERS LAD

Match Photos courtesy of Jim Booth HERE