Nuneaton Borough and Atherstone will have to do it all again on Tuesday night after battling out a goalless draw at Sheepy Road.

The two Dr Martens Premier League outfits were perfectly matched and fought out a dogged, tension-racked afternoon.

The home side have former Borough keeper Dale Belford to thank for the replay. The keeper somehow managed to keep out a late effort from Terry Angus that looked destined for the back of the net to decide the game.

Angus, whose influence and league experience has been a key to Borough's soaraway start, climbed highest to meet a cross from Dave Crowley, but Belford somehow kept the ball out and must have been relieved to see Kevin Wilkin hit the rebound on to the bar.

Borough, playing with the slope in their favour, started the stronger but were forced to make changes when Anton Thomas went off with hamstring trouble, allowing veteran Ian Muir to come on.

Atherstone began to make an impression midway through the half when Kim Green managed to get his head to a corner only for keeper Richard Williams to get his head to the ball.

The Borough keeper then had to keep out a long range effort from Danny Martin but was caught out in the 30^th minute when he failed to take a cross from Richard Barratt.

The home side hit the woodwork themselves in the 55^th minute when Kim Green latched on to a corner from former Sky Blue midfielder Lee Middleton only for his header to striker a post.

But it was Belford who emerged as the hero with his late stop, setting up what is bound to be another passionate encounter at Manor Park on Tuesday – Brendan Phillips first home match since signing a full-time contract.

ATHERSTONE:
Belford, Blair, Barratt, Dean, Albrighton, Redgate, Green, Hart, White, Middleton, Martin
Subs: Higgs, Wright, Young, Berks, Bennett