Tranmere Rovers U18s went home with a share of the points as they drew 0-0 away to Oldham Athletic U18s.
Jake Burton and Michael Quinn came close to opening the scoring for Tranmere.
However, despite their dominance in the game, Rovers were unable to find the back of the net as they did everything but score.
The start of the match was largely contested in midfield with both sides failing to create many chances in the opening minutes.
As Tranmere began to find their feet, the first big chance came in the ninth minute when Amr Badhawi found George Nugent in the box, but the number 10 was unable to get a shot away.
Oldham struggled to keep hold of the ball as Andy Parkinson’s side began to create some promising chances. Jake Burton ran at the home team’s defence after some nice play, his shot was straight at Mackenzie Chapman
The young whites continued to put their opponents under pressure and looked to go ahead as Badhawi put in another good cross to find Burton who would have opened the scoring if it was not for an excellent block from Will Sutton.
With Oldham on the backfoot, Burton looked to make amends for his wasted chances. Demitrius Rhami met a cross from Quinn in the air to knock the ball down to Burton, but it was another chance missed as his scuffed shot was easily saved.
The home team never looked like scoring in the first half, but Rovers really should have scored just before half time when Rhami produced a great run before finding Quinn and with the keeper stranded, he failed to hit the target.
The second half was a much more even contest with both sides threatening to open the scoring.
The first chance of the half came after 55 minutes when Oldham’s Junior Luamba’s ball into the box came to Vani De Silva, but he was unable to connect with the header, should have scored.
The away side looked to punish Oldham for their wasted chance. Again, it was Burton, he beat his man in the box and got the shot away but again it was straight at Chapman.
As time began to run out, both teams looked to grab a late winner.
Luamba danced through the box and would have put the home side ahead but Harry Farley’s block stopped a certain goal, superb defending.
With just a minute to play, Tranmere had perhaps their best chance of the game. Nugent’s cut back found substitute Jacob Walton who was unable to finish as his effort sailed over the bar.
Although getting their first clean sheet in six games was a positive to take away, Parkinson’s boys should have won on what was just one of those days as they did everything right except score.
Tranmere will look to kick on from this draw in their next match as they face Rochdale at home on Saturday 15 February.
Report by: Daniel Paul Noble