Redditch Utd 0, Burnham 0

In boxing terms, this was a contest that should have been stopped a long time before the final whistle.

With 11 goal attempts in the opening period, Burnham were reeling on the ropes and it only seemed a matter of time before the Reds would finally find the back of the net and prise open the floodgates.

But it wasn’t to happen. Chances continued to go astray and visiting keeper Alex Lynch pulled off a handful of decent saves to ensure the Reds finished goalless for the second successive game.

But while the 0-0 draw at Corby could be hailed as a decent away point against another of promotion chasers, stalemate at home to a club languishing at the foot of the table is harder to take.

New signing Calvin Dinsley proved a star turn with a confident midfield display, breaking up the rare Burnham attacks as well as being central to much of United’s good work.

And it could have been a perfect day for the former Stourport Swifts player had his powerful ninth minute effort not hit the foot of the visitors’ post.

George Carline had already tested Lynch by then and the keeper produced an excellent save to keep out a 25-yard Ashley Sammons strike midway through the half.

Jamie Spencer and Simeon Maye put efforts off target and then combined in unfortunate fashion when Maye’s goalbound effort hit his teammate.

Sammons went close again in injury time and he was then denied by Lynch early in the second half following a neat exchange of passes on the edge of the Burnham area.

The Reds were almost caught by a sucker punch on the hour when keeper Sam Hornby missed a clearance and Anthony Mendy’s shot at the open goal was deflected inches wide.

With ten minutes to go, the visitors had midfielder Kurtney Brookes sent off after he picked up two bookings in as many minutes.

But there was still no way through for the home side as they piled the pressure on.

Substitute Dior Angus went closest – a 78th minute free-kick which Lynch had to palm around the post and an 85th minute shot straight at the keeper.

The Reds may have extended their unbeaten league run to nine games but the fact they have failed to score in more than three hours will be a concern for manager Liam McDonald.

Reds: Hornby 6, Jones 8, Flanagan 7, DINSLEY 9, Mutton 7, Scarr 7, Maye 7, Carline 8, Spencer 6, Sammons 6 (Angus 63, 6), Hylton 7. Subs (not used): Cullinane-Liburd, Spink, Oshungbure, Catlow.