MIDDLEWICH needed to win at Linotype/Cheadle to go above their hosts, but a determined display from both sides ended in a 1-1 draw - a fair results all things considered.

The home team started well and in the eighth minute a good shot from their winger John Murphy was well saved by Town keeper Kevin Whitehead.

Despite plenty of hustle and bustle, the home team found it difficult to create any clear chances.

The nearest Town came to scoring was in the 34th minute when good work down the wing by Kyle Dyson and Gary Bryning ended with a shot saved by the home keeper for a corner.

The quickly taken short corner by Dyson to Mike Sandbach saw the winger hit a fine shot which was again saved well by the keeper.

The home team started the second half in determined mood, but again found it difficult to break down the Town defence in which Graham Kay was in outstanding form.

In the 52nd minute Town should have taken the lead. A free kick taken by Dave Shore rebounded off Kay into the path of Bryning who hit the ball wide of the target.

Middlewich nearly broke the deadlock in the 57th minute when a corner was cleared into the path of Craig Stevens, who hit a perfect volley that was cleared off the line.

A minute late Gary Bryning was unlucky to be judged offside as he went clean through on goal.

In the 62nd minute Bryning was replaced by Michael Brandon who was fouled on the edge of the penalty area

The resultant free kick was hit firmly by Mark Jones but the shot went just wide.

With 10 minutes to go Andrew Whitney was brought on to replace Lee Murphy in attack for the visitors and within minutes he was clearly held back by last man Chris Gordon.

The referee gave a free kick but for some inexplicable reason the defender was allowed to stay on the pitch as the gamed ended in deadlock.

TOWN: Whitehead, Shore, Rogerson, Kay, Tutt, Stevens, Sandbach, Jones, Murphy, Bryning, Dyson. Subs: Brandon, Whitney, Morgan.