BILLINGE came away from Greenalls Padgate St Oswalds with just a point on Saturday after a frustrating afternoon for the Storks.

Despite dominating possession and Billinge goalkeeper Tom Derbyshire only being called upon to make one save, the ultra-defensive Warrington side held out for a goalless draw.

The unfavourable surface did nothing to help Geoff Parr’s side, with their usual style of football kept to a minimum.

“It was a difficult pitch to play on and we knew the lads would tire and would have liked to have used our substitutions to reflect that, but it wasn’t to be,” he said.

“We were far from our normal selves, but we have to be content that we picked up a point.

“We had to make a few changes prior to kick-off and the two injuries also didn’t help us as we were forced to make substitutions we wouldn’t normally have done at that point.”

With both teams rusty and the bumpy pitch making control of the ball difficult, it was 10 minutes before any meaningful action.

Seb Bradshaw picked out brother Elliot with a delightful through ball before the ball was quickly smothered by the Greenalls keeper.

The best chance of the half fell to Jamie Anderson, but his snapshot deflected off the post.

The Storks continued to press in the first half, with a flurry of chances going agonizingly close.

The second half continued in the same vein as Josh Taffe went close when after onto a long throw.

With Chris Cottington being pushed upfront, The Storks finished the game strongly and it was from his cross that Billinge had a great chance to win the game.

His deep cross found substitute Paul Doherty’s head, but the lively substitute fired his header against the bar with just the keeper to beat.

The Storks remain fifth in the Cheshire League Premier Division but turn their attention to the Premier Division Challenge Cup on Saturday as they travel to Poynton, kick off 2pm.