IN what was possibly the worst game since manager Paul Cox took charge four and a half years ago, Eastwood were fortunate to come away with a goalless draw at home to Blue Square North strugglers Vauxhall Motors.

Both teams struggled to adapt to the heavy conditions and on the rare occasion when they did, an over-officious referee strangled the life from the game.

There were very few chances for either side.

Alan Moogan did well to stop Badgers striker Lindon Meikle as he burst into the box after six minutes and, two minutes later, Moogan was on hand again to clear a dangerous cross from Ross Gardner.

In the 20th minute, Gardner's free kick was only cleared as far as Danny Holland, whose shot was blocked in a ruck of players.

However, Vauxhall were solid at the back and began to create chances, hitting the Badgers on the break.

After another Eastwood attack, Josh Wilson led a Vauxhall charge out of defence and was unlucky not to find Karl Noon, with the Eastwood defenders struggling to get back.

Wilson then volleyed over from the edge of the box and it was hard to tell which of the two teams was in the play-off places and which was bottom of the league.

Vauxhall could have taken the lead after 57 minutes when Lee Furlong's cross was hooked away from in front of goal by Paul Riley before Noon could pounce.

Noon led another swift attack which stretched the Eastwood defence but with options both left and right, he over-hit a ball to Tom Grice.

In the dying minutes, Moogan fired a dangerous free kick just past the post and substitute Markel Bailey played Holland in behind the Vauxhall defence but, under pressure, he fired weakly at the keeper.

EASTWOOD TOWN: Budtz, Cooke, Riley, Nwadike, Robinson, Marshall, Meikle (Bailey, 61), Foster, Smith (Brown, 61), Holland, Gardner. Other subs: Holmes, Gaughan, Stair, Bailey.

VAUXHALL MOTORS: Coates, Lane, Moogan, Evans, Hannigan, Smith, Dodgson, Furlong, Noon, Wilson, Grice. Other subs: Owens, Mustafa, Wright, Richards, Macauley.

REFEREE: R Wooton.

ATTENDANCE: 374.