Fleet battled to a hard-won point away from home with a goalless draw at Maidenhead, Alan Devonshire’s side boasting the second best home record in the division.

With Sam Deering playing in place of the injured Matt Godden – as he did from the 11th minute of Saturday’s game – hopes were high that the new signing from Whitehawk could create the same impact.

But the Magpies  were a well-drilled unit on home soil and they hit the crossbar through James Comley early on and the same player was thwarted by Nathan Ashmore with the first of two excellent saves to keep his second successive clean sheet.

Aaron McLean had a couple of half chances for the Fleet and the visitors had a good case for a penalty when the former Barnet striker was tripped but referee Anthony Coggins was unmoved by the appeals. With the two No.5s, Anthony Acheampong and Alan Massey, impressive at the heart of their defences, neither set of strikers got much of a sniff at goal and a goalless draw seemed ever more likely as Fleet fans willed their side on.

MUFC: Pentney, Huggins, Steer, Smith, Massey, Inman, Barratt, Comley, Reid, Tarpey, Pritchard. Subs: Nisbet, Wright, Wiltshire, Mulley, Upward.
EUFC: Ashmore, Howe (Sheringham 83), Van den Bogaert, Lewis, Acheampong (Clark 81), Bonner, Rance, Deering, Kedwell, McLean, Kissock. Subs not used: Cook, Parkes, Miles.
Attendance: 448