LUFFS 0 WILMCOTE 0 (4/10/03) LOUGHBOROUGH were involved in a nil nil draw on Saturday but wasn't a game without incident and in the end a single point was a valuable asset and lifted the club up a single place in the league. The Loughborough defence looked a little unsettled in the opening stages and only a timely tackle from Loughborough's Matt Watkiss stopped striker Smith getting clear on goal and it was the same player shortly afterwards who took advantage of some defensive hesitancy to find the side netting. Loughborough's first effort on goal fell to Ian Stevenson but he was a bit too far out and the shot was a wild one. The first half was livened up as the West Bromwich referee Glen Budworth was obliged to stop the game as a rabbit broke cover and was hotly pursued by one of Mr Dalby's dogs. The rabbit made good use of the flanks on the big pitch at The Drome, made a couple of remarkable body swerves before finding sanctuary under the hospitality cabin and the game was re started. Wilmcote had the ball in the net but it was ruled offside, while their keeper Moran was under pressure punching away a high ball with the resulting loose ball being knocked just wide by Chris Collin. Ian Stevenson shot just wide while at the other end Mark Edward's made a timely tackle to keep the clean sheet intact. Nick Bates curled a shot just wide for Loughborough as the chances were about even and the goals nil. The second half was not short of chances for either side and at times a point looked good but at others The Luffs could well have pinched them all. Bates went on a run but lost his way at the final hurdle, Smith hit the bar from a tight angle for Wilmcote and Gareth Rogers hit a cracking shot destined for the bottom corner only to see it deflected wide of the Wilmcote goal. A rash challenge from Skipper Carl Springthorpe gave Wilmcote a penalty but Smith stroked it wide of the mark. Mat Watkiss very nearly caught out keeper Moran with a chip but the keeper back pedalled quickly to save. Loughborough withstood a period of pressure and keeper Paul Springthorpe made a series of important saves, three in the space of five minutes. But this was end to end stuff and Kris Richardson forced a save from Moran while Steve Davey had his shot cleared off the line. Mark Edwards shot just wide and Paul Springthorpe made one last save as the points were shared. At times The Luffs had rode their luck with this one but then they too had had the chances to win but this was another spirited performance stretching the unbeaten run to two but the clean sheet pleased manager Simon Tebbut more than anything. This Saturday sees Loughborough away at Bloxwich Town with the probability of the kick off being brought forward to clear the England game. TEAM:  Paul SPRINGTHORPE, Matt WATKISS, Ian STEVENSON, Carl SPRINGTHORPE, Gareth ROGERS, Mark EDWARDS, BROWN, Nick BATES, Chris COLLIN, Danny BRAILSFORD, Adam LOCKER  SUBS:  Steve DAVEY, Kris RICHARDSON, Sul MORINA SCORERS:   ATT: N/A HT: 0-0