Boston United 0-0 Nuneaton Town

Substitute Constantine was denied by a questionable offside flag from assistant referee Neil Guest after tapping the ball home following Danny Alcock’s initial save from Danny Sleath.

The Pilgrims arguably deserved all three points following a strong home performance, but at least took solace from a first clean sheet since November.

Both teams remain winless in 2012 but United carried the greater threat going forward and will be aiming to get back on the victory trail with three successive away games coming up.

With debutant Conor Marshall handed a debut at right-back and joint manager Lee Canoville shifted infield to partner Tom Ward, the Pilgrims showed a reshuffled defensive line-up.

Boston were on the offensive early on and from an Ian Ross corner, Spencer Weir-Daley and Marc Newsham were denied on the line by a combination of Adam Walker and keeper Danny Alcock.

Sleath tested Alcock from distance, while 25-yard efforts from Ross and midfield partner Ben Milnes whistled fractionally wide.

Nuneaton threatened for the first time six minutes before half-time when Danny Mitchley wriggled free, but Paul Bastock responded with a routine near post stop.

Boston carried a threat after the break too, with Weir-Daley’s drive being deflected to safety by Guy Hadland and Ross’ brilliant effort being tipped aside by an increasingly-worked Alcock.

Nuneaton carried their own threat on the counter-attack and Bastock was forced into a sprawling save to thwart Mitchley after a long ball had been allowed to bounce.

Wesley York should have handed Nuneaton the lead moments later, but after finding space between Ward and Marshall, tamely fired over the crossbar from 12 yards.

United pushed strongly for a winner, with Gareth Jelleyman’s rising drive flashing across goal following Ross’ deep free-kick.

Boston thought they had secured the breakthrough their play deserved when Constantine tapped the ball home, after Sleath’s first effort had been fumbled towards the net by Alcock, but Guest’s flag cut short United’s celebrations.

Sleath was denied by Alcock again in stoppage time, but the Pilgrims were left to contemplate two points getting away following an excellent display.

Boston (4-3-3): Paul Bastock; Conor Marshall, Lee Canoville, Tom Ward, Gareth Jelleyman; Ben Milnes, Ian Ross, Danny Sleath; Ben Fairclough, Spencer Weir-Daley, Marc Newsham (Leon Constantine 80). Subs (not used): Chris Hall, Kevin Austin, Nathan Stainfield, Ricky Drury (gk).

Nuneaton (4-4-2): Danny Alcock; Mark Noon, Mark Albrighton, Guy Hadland, Simon Forsdick; Lee Moore, Adam Walker, Gary Mills, Wesley York; Andy Brown (Danny Glover 80), Danny Mitchley (James Armson 63). Subs (not used): Alex Dean, Neil Collett (gk).

Referee: Jason Tyas