A rather depleted Alfreton Town side gave a good showing at Southern League Premier outfit Bromsgrove on Saturday in their final pre-season friendly before the big test at Blyth Spartans next week-end.
Work commitments, weddngs and holidays were responible for several key absentees, while keeper James Lindley and defender Kyle McFadzean were kept out as a precaution following injuries.
Replacement keeper Ale Barcharini put in a much-improved display and pulled off a couple of good saves, but he was fortunate early in the second-half when his mistake ended with the ball in the back of the net only for an offside flag to come to the rescue.
In fact the game was notable for it's disallowed goals, Matt Glass looking as sharp as ever as he clinically finished two neat moves only to see both "goals" ruled out for offside.
Just two minutes after the interval Scott Rickards, more familiar to Bromsgrove neighbours Redditch United, linked up with Glass in a defence-splitting move only for the latter to have strayed fractionally beyond the last line of defence.
Then on 70 minutes, following a poor clearance from Nathan Winder's punt upfield by home keeper Karl Lewis, substitute Scott Ellis retrieved the loose ball before finding Glass, only for the over worked flag-waver to strike again.
In between these frustrated efforts Alfreton, and Barcharini in particular, had a 56th minute let-off when the visiting keeper failed to hold a shot from Paul Lloyd and although last season's top-scorer Nathan Lamey pounced to steer the ball home he became actively offside in the process.
Laurie Wilson had gone closest for the Reds with a venomous strike from 20 yards in the 11th minute, the ball swerving as it smashed against the inside of the post and rebounded across the face of goal before spinning out for a goal-kick.
Glass was proving to be a handful as early as the fourth minute, despite being required to play wider than normal, his close-range angled drive having to be turned behind rapidly by Lloyd.
At the other end two minutes later Barcharini had to be alert in dealing late with an awkward effort from Kevin Banner, but from the ensuing corner Lucan Spittle headed well wide from a good position.
In the eighth minute Keith Russell put a clear header wide of the near post from another Banner corner.
A quiet spell led to Rickards engineering a 21st minute opening, his shot spinning off Chris McHale only for Glass to tamely place a golden opportunity into the keeper's grateful arms.
Two minutes later Wayne Dyer required far too much time having done the hard work with Alfreton's rearguard cmpletely stretched, but his deliberations allowed Matt Wilson the time needed to retrieve his position and block the eventual shot.
With 32 minutes elapsed Kris Bowler headed behind from a neat Glass cross following Rickards' lay-off, then four minutes later hard-working defender Mark Barnard required lengthy treatment while players from both sides took on much-needed water in the relentless Worcestershire sunshine.
Barcharini earned his corn seven minutes before the break as Banner unleashed a lethal shot from just outside the area, the keeper palming the ball initially before gathering it confidently at the second attempt.
Spittle had to clear off the line in th 44th minute as Laurie Wilson picked out Glass with a delightful through-ball, but immediately in response Barcharini did well to block from Russell at close range although a belated offside decision would have saved the day anyway.
A mazy run by Bowler on 62 minutes led to Barnard's useful cross into the box but Daniel Douglas-Pringle stepped on the ball and the chance was lost, then seconds later Glass outwitted and outpaced Spittle but could not get past McHale.
Another telling Barnard cross nine minutes from time caught Ellis off-balance, then on 82 minutes Anton Brown released Glass only for the shot to evade the far post.
Rovers almost had the last word though on 88 minutes when Dave Bridgewater put Gary Hay through on goal only for the Bromsgrove striker to fire high and wide to ensure an entertaining encounter remained mysteriously goal-less.
BROMSGROVE:  Lewis; Lloyd, Petty, McHale, Spittle, Alsop (Lamey h/t), Bridgewater, Dyer, Hay, Russell, Banner. Other sub: Summers.
ALFRETON: Barcharini, Henshaw, Barnard, M Wilson, Winder, L Wilson, Douglas-Pringle, Brown, Rickards (Ellis 58), Glass, Bowler. Other subs: Hannigan, Lindley.
REFEREE: Mr. Mervyn Amphlett (Kidderminster).
ATTENDANCE: 186.
BOOKINGS: None.
MAN OF THE MATCH: Mark Barnard.