MALVERN Town were held to a 0-0 draw at Bishops Cleeve on Saturday as they played out an entertaining goalless draw at Kayte Lane.

Having not kept a clean sheet all season, there were plenty of positives to take for a Malvern side still trying to find their feet in the Southern League Division One South. 

They ended their seven-game winless run in the previous league contest at Exmouth Town (3-1) and Saturday's point was another step in the right direction for The Hillsiders.

It was an eventful game with a number of chances, the first for former Bishops Cleeve man Jack Watts, who could not convert when 1-on-1 with Lewis Clayton.

The Hillsiders started with purpose and the home keeper was again called into action to deny Jordan Annear who had broken free in the box. 

As the home side started to get into their stride, Malvern keeper Archie Burford did well to twice save from Ross Langworthy to keep the scores level. 

Both sides continued to search for the opener. Watts curled wide of the target and the increasingly dangerous Langworthy missed a golden opportunity to break the deadlock when dragging wide after beating the offside trap to get in behind the Malvern defence.

Matt Turner and Adam Sauntson had shots off target as the game approached stoppage time, whilst the latter defended well in his own box to deny Ethan Dunbar. 

There was drama in stoppage time as a towering header from Malvern's Joe Davies from a corner was somehow hooked off the line before Watts went close to a dramatic winner against his former club as it ended in a rare goalless draw.

Malvern remain in trouble down at the bottom of the table, just two points clear of the relegation zone, but a clean-sheet and a point away from home will certainly provide some encouragement going forward.

They return home this weekend for a clash with high-flying Frome Town (Saturday 3PM KO).