THERE was little to cheer the crowd at a chilly Dark Lane as two well organized sides cancelled eachother out in this bore draw.

There was good early pressure from Dale who earned themselves three corners in the opening couple of minutes, but the first two strikes on target were both from the visitors, though Jean-Paul N'djebayi was barely troubled by two tame shots from distance.

Joe Booth and Phil Eastwood both had shots which went well wide of the mark, and neither keeper had a meaningful save to make until Joe Gibiliru hammered in a strike in the 31st minute.

In the second half it was the 63rd minute before Alsager keeper Phil McGing was brought into action, when Robbie Smith was denied by a fantastic save.

Substitute Anthony Taylor had a couple of half chances, but it was the introduction of Matt Edgington that provided the spark the game needed.

He supplied two crosses which could, and probably should have led to a winning goal for Dale.

First McGing did well to stretch and flick the ball off Neil Zarac's forehead at the back post.

And the big striker should have made no mistake deep into injury time, but he headed over from six yards with the goal at his mercy.