THE two best footballing sides in the Unibond First Division put on an excellent display in difficult weather conditions at the Crown Ground last night.

Although the game ended goalless, with both defences performing well, there were chances for both sides to score.

In the first half both Gary Williams and Steve Carragher went close to opening Stanley's account before Mark Shirley drilled a defence splitting ball into the area that Witton defender Brian Pritchard did well to clear with Carragher in close attendance.

Stanley goalkeeper Jamie Speare made one tremendous save to deny Witton the lead then Williams forced a corner which Jay Flannery hit over the bar. At the opposite end, Speare raced out of goal to kick clear as Witton centre forward Dave Anane closed in on it.

Just before the interval, Witton's Charlie Boyd sent Anane racing away but he shot wide when he might have done better. Stanley resumed after the break with Mark Ceraolo and Brett Baxter replacing the injured John Coleman and Steve Caswell.

Both teams continued to play good football with Stanley's Williams heading what looked like a certain goal from a Mark Shirley cross until Witton player-manager and Nigel Gleghorn somehow managed to clear the ball off the line.

The former Burnley star also shot wide from a direct free kick that troubled no-one. Stanley's Russell Payne came on for Shirley in the 82nd minute and he made several runs at the Witton defence to try to break the deadlock.

In the final minute the referee gave an indirect free kick to Stanley in the penalty area for dangerous play when Payne got a Witton boot full in the face.

After the game was held up for several minutes for treatment to Payne the free kick was finally taken. Almost the entire Witton team was on the goal line when Stanley's John Doolan received the ball eight yards out only to pull his shot wide of the near post.

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