MATCH REPORT Gloucester City 0-0 AFC Totton

Gloucester City extended their unbeaten run to eight games after earning a battling point against second place AFC Totton at the TigerTurf Stadium

In a game lacking in clear cut chances, Gloucester City had the better of the forays on goal as they were looking to draw level on points with their opponents.

The Tigers had the best chance of the first half with nice link up between top scorer Joe Hanks and Elis Watts blaing over the bar, before great interchange between Hanks and Brandon Smalley with 10 minutes left to run before the interval leading to a strong save from the Stags keeper Ryan Gosney.

Totton with the second best attack in the league improved in the second half with Tony Lee shooting just wide before Joe Oastler header failing to hit the target.

The away side bought on big name players Scott Rendell and Charlie Austin with Austin firing well over misjudging the flight of the ball.

City rang the changes with Jadyn Crosbie, Harry Emmett and Kieran Phillips coming on to make an imapct and while City had a lot of the territory and possesions they could not score the winner.

Watts who continued to add dynamism and ball carrying to the City attack had a strike deflect just wide of the left hand post with minutes to spare.

The Tigers nearly won it at the death in a frentic injury time after Phillips met a free kick with a header but it went comfortably into Gosney's hands from six yards out which proved to be the last momment of the tense encounter between top of the best sides in the divison.

A third clean sheet in a row was the main positive for the hosts, in addition to ensuring an unbeaten record against the top two sides but City's slim title chances look close to over.

City remain 10 points clear of the playoffs, but remain three behind Totton after the stalement, while Merthyr extended their points gap to 13 ahead of City at the top of the Southern Premier Divison Table

Next up for the hosts is mid table Basingstoke who lost to Taunton Town by two goals to nil on Saturday before another away trip to Gosport Borough on Wednesday night as the fixtures come thick and fast.