Wrexham 0 Chesterfield 0

Last updated : 09 August 2003 By Footymad Previewer

Both sides did their best to produce good football in the blazing sunshine whilst spectators, many with their shirts off enjoying the afternoon, showed consideration for the men out in the middle.

Match referee Andy Penn also showed leniency, allowing frequent breaks for players to get a drink, and he too enjoyed a swig from the trainer's water bottle.

Chesterfield had the first opening and Glynn Hurst should have scored. He seemed offside when he met Allan O'Hare's left wing cross but fired his first hasty shot straight at the keeper who also stopped the second from the rebound.

Chris Brandon gave Andy Dibble an easy save with the next chance, when he placed a looping header near the bar.

Wrexham had new signings Chris Armstrong and Chris Llewellyn in their front line for the first time but neither had a real chance of scoring until late in the game. Armstrong had a glancing header saved and Llewellyn might have done better when he ran in at the near post for what seemed a good opening, only to have his shot blocked from close range.

Ian Evatt missed for the Spireites when he met Brandon's right wing cross and let loose a rising shot that beat the keeper, but went a foot too high.

Armstrong was clearly feeling the pace after being out of league football for a while and he was taken off after the hour to be replaced by Lee Jones, whose only chance produced a weak header that caused no trouble for visiting keeper Carl Muggleton.

Wrexham manager Denis Smith said that later in the season he would consider playing with three strikers but Armstrong needed more time to get full match fitness.

Chesterfield, still without an away win since Boxing Day, were content with a point.

Spireites boss Roy McFarland said: "It was an exceptionally hard game. Both sides were a credit to football. Perhaps if Hurst had taken that early chance a goal would have settled us down and we might have gone on to win."