PAUL Hathaway saved a first-half penalty as Rugby Town were held to a frustrating goalless draw by fellow strugglers Lye Town.
Hathaway kept out Jon Palmer’s spot kick while the visitors had Michael Adanusi sent off deep into injury time at Butlin Road.
The result means Rugby sit three points from safety in the Northern Premier League Midlands relegation zone.
Valley spurned an early chance to break the deadlock as Josh Thomas saw his effort blocked following a corner before Tyreace Brown lifted the rebound over the crossbar.
The home side had another chance to take the lead with Jahvan Davidson-Miller unable to hit the target.
However, Lye won a penalty on 28 minutes when Brown fouled Nathanial Dixon in the box.
Palmer stepped up for the visitors only for Hathaway to produce a fine stop diving to his right.
And Palmer saw his low effort hit the post before the interval with neither side able to find a breakthrough in the first half.
Rugby twice went close early in the second period as Davidson-Miller looked to trouble the Lye goal.
And Lye goalkeeper Ben Newey then managed to turn Brown’s header around the post.
Valley threatened to break late on with Dan Reka’s potential run on goal halted by Adanusi who received a second yellow card three minutes into injury time.
Rugby are next in action against Worcester City on Saturday, March 1 with kick-off at 3pm at Claines Lane.
