It was stalemate at the Victoria Ground on Saturday afternoon, as Bromsgrove Sporting and AFC Rushden & Diamonds played out a 0-0 draw.

Sporting started the game lively, with both Mikey Taylor and Tom Taylor having efforts on goal blocked away.

Diamonds gradually grew into the half, with Nathan Hicks capping off a marauding run with a decent 25-yard effort and Ben Acquaye having a shot from distance smartly saved by Daniel Platt.

The home team had a fine opportunity to break the deadlock two minutes before the half time whistle, as Jack Wilson set up Richard Gregory; he beat his defender but saw his low shot kept out well by keeper Ben Heath.

Greg Mills had a free kick blocked early in the second half; soon after, Bromsgrove had two more big chances.

Firstly, Gregory had a shot from 10 yards that was saved by Heath, before Leon Broadhurst put a diving header wide from a corner.

The 70th minute saw Diamonds' Jesse Akubuine have a 20 yards effort palmed away by Sporting stopper Platt.

The final few moments of the game produced chances for both sides - Platt was equal to a right footed shot from Rushden captain Liam Dolman that followed a goalmouth scramble, whilst Gregory had a cross-shot saved before Mikey Taylor headed over for Bromsgrove.

=================

Entertainment rating: 2/5

Man of the Match: Daniel Platt (Bromsgrove Sporting)