Otago United: 0
Hawkes Bay: 0
Otago United did not produce its best form, and Hawkes Bay was left ruing missing myriad goalscoring chances as the sides battled to a 0-0 draw in the ASB Premiership match.
Otago United did not produce the good technique that it showed in the high-scoring draw with the Phoenix A team in midweek.
Otago United coach Malcolm Fleming was disappointed with his side's effort, and thought perhaps some of the fitness was used up in midweek.
"But I would not use that as an excuse. Too many players were below par, and but for a top match by keeper Adam Highfield we could have lost by several goals," Fleming said.
Andy Coburn produced a battling never-say-die effort on his 100th national league match and received a presentation at fulltime.
Otago missed the suspended Tom Connor and injured Paul Seaman and Al Rickerby.
Most disappointing was a no-show by striker Phil Ruggles, who had been living with United chairman Dave Lamont, and Lamont was as surprised as everyone when the Englishman failed to return to Dunedin for the game.
With five matches to go, Otago can still achieve the top four play-offs, and some credit must go to defenders and a recovering midfield for grit, if not composure, in earning a point.
Centreback Tim Horner was an anchor in defence until he had to go off in the second half due to a worrying recurrence of a groin complaint.
Tristan Prattley bombed up the left wing to produce a couple of telling crosses, but in general, the delivery into the Bays goal area was erratic.
A little silver lining emerged via new signing Chris Anderson, who showed skill and bravery against two of the ASB League's most abrasive defenders, Bill Robertson and Jonathan Taylor.
Left fullback Phil Doran also showed old-fashioned crunch in the tackle, as well as aggressive pace up the wing.
Bay coach Matt Chandler praised his team's pattern of play.
"They did everything we talked about except scoring, despite making a swag of chances."
Bays' trio of internationals were especially impressive.
Few Otago fans could ignore Andy Bevin, who scored a hat-trick against Otago last time out, and his senior All White partner Jarrod Smith, and Australian under-17 star Scott Gannon.
Throw in the near-veteran Chris McIvor, who delivered a string of telling passes, and Hawkes Bay only needed an in-form striker to rack up some goals.
Yet, spectators at Tahuna Park were entertained by the knife-edge nature of the match, and feeding on crumbs, Otago might have snatched a late win as Chandler's side became nervous when the clock ran down.
But referee Jamie Cross blew his whistle to halve the points, and of the two coaches, possibly Otago's Fleming has the bigger task ahead of him.
