Carshalton Athletic 0 Horsham 0

Any point is valuable with so little distance between the teams in the middle and lower order of the table, but neither side will have taken much satisfaction from a game where the contrasting styles of the two sides cancelled each other out and most of the game was played in the midfield.

Neither team mastered a difficult surface and the disjointed performance reflected the much changed starting line-ups of both sides.

Hayden Bird gave a debut to midfielder Stuart Harte and striker Dwayne Plummer, but the best opportunities in the early stages both fell to the visitors.

Simon Austin was first to a free-kick from the right, only to put his header wide of the near upright and a well-worked free-kick shortly after ended with Lewis Taylor stroking his shot wide of the far post.

The Robins' best move of the half was started and finished by Rob Ursell, who fed the ball to David Graves on the right.

Graves found Plummer, who took the ball to the by-line before pulling it back to Ursell, but the final shot cleared the cross-bar.

With so much of the play in the midfield and neither team willing to concede possession, it was inevitable that the referee would have a busy afternoon.

Austin was the first to be booked for one remark too many to the official and both number eights, Evans for the Robins and Taylor for Horsham, joined him shortly after as the tackles flew in.

Horsham's Jacob Mingle seemed to be the focal point for most of the combative work around the pitch, only to disappear when the ref appeared on the scene, but the game never quite boiled over thanks to the good sense of most of the players.

Jason Ward tested Robins Howe with a snapshot early in the second half, but his effort was safely held by the keeper, who subsequently enjoyed a relatively restful afternoon well shielded by the Robins back four.

Stuart Myall came to Horsham's rescue with a header off the line as the Robins threw players forward for a corner and, the longer the game weny on, the more the Robins began to enjoy a greater share of the play.

Horsham survived a confident penalty appeal when Dean Carpenter was brought down as he cut in from the left and, minutes later, French was shown the yellow card for failing to move away when the Robins were awarded a free-kick.

Graham, Ruggles and Johnson all came on in quick succession as Carshalton continued to probe for an opening and it looked as though Ruggles might break through on the right, but a good move was ruined by a poor cross.

Johnson tried his luck on the other flank and there was a hint of handball when his cross was smothered by French, but the referee waved play on.

The final minutes witnessed an outstanding run by Johnson at the heart of the defence but, with the supporters behind the goal almost sucking the ball in, the final shot never came and the ball was cleared.

In the final minute of normal time, Carshalton were awarded a free-kick for a pass back to ex-Robins keeper Seuke in the area, but with the whole of the Horsham side crowded into the goalmouth Rob Ursell's kick sailed disappointingly over.

Robins: Howe, Graves, Carpenter, Gonsalves, Harwood, Harte, Stevens (Graham), Evans, Plummer (Ruggles), Ursell, Watts (Johnson). Subs not used: Cooper, Hall.Next gamesTuesday, February 12 (7.45pm): Tonbridge Angels v Carshalton Athletic, Ryman League CupTuesday, February 16 (3pm): AFC Hornchurch v Carshalton Athletic, Ryman Premier DivisionSaturday, February 23 (3pm): Carshalton Athletic v East Thurrock United, Ryman Premier Division