Despite sporting new players in their front lines, these two teams failed to find the net as the match that promised so much ended in a goalless stalemate.

Village will be encouraged by the display of big striker Philip Clarke, who rejoined them from Devonshire Cougars, while Walter Musson looked promising down the left side of the Town attack in his first match back.

The first real chance for either team came in the eighth minute when a ball was only half-cleared out of the Town penalty area and Village skipper Elliott Jennings, spotting goalkeeper Anthony Manders off his line, lobbed a first-time header over his head for what looked a sure goal, only for full-back Lloyd Christopher to clear the ball off the line.

Village and Town were two of the busiest teams in the transfer marker during the close season and between them they fielded six new signings with four more sitting on the benches.

Town, with Paul Cann, captain Voorhees Astwood and Dennis Robinson working hard in midfield, matched their opponents with some fluent attacking moves, most of which were concentrated down Musson's left side, though full-back Kevin Grant was equal to the task.

Manders, too, was kept busy as he blocked an effort from Paul Simmons in the 30th minute after a pass from Elliott Jennings set up the forward inside the box.

Stevie Wade threatened at times in his debut for Town following his move from Cougars but all he had to show for his 90 minutes was a first booking of the season from Roddy Burchall for infringement late in the first half.

One of Town's best chances of the first half fell to Wade five minutes later when his shot was blocked by 'keeper Davis near the edge of the area after Cann had knocked the ball forward to open the Village defence.

Then full-back Lloyd Christopher got forward unchecked three minutes before the break and had the crowd gasping with a volley that flashed wide of the far post.

Clarke continued to be Village's danger man up front as they made a substitution at the start of the second half by replacing former Boulevard player Clinton Caisey in midfield with Michael Hansey who settled in quickly.

A strong run by Clarke in the 58th minute opened the Town defence as he slid the ball to his left to Simmons whose effort was blocked. At the other end Musson tried his luck with a well-hit volley from deep on the left, which Davis collected at the near post.

Late in the game, Elliott Jennings went off to get treated for cramp as Village played briefly with 10 men. Then some brilliant close control by Clarke five minutes from the end should have produced a late winner as he got past two defenders on the goal-line on the left and got in a cross, which was cleared in front of goal.

Arthur Simons, preferred to Albert Caisey at left-back, was the second booking of the night in the 88th minute for a bad challenge.

Dandy Town: A.Manders; L.Christopher, W.Rudo, W.Campbell, N.Paynter; P.Cann, V.Astwood, D.Robinson (P.Douglas, 68 mins); W.Musson, C.Smith (S.Smith, 64 mins), S.Wade.

North Village: C.Davis; K.Grant, A.Simons, S.Smith, T.Walker; E.Jennings, K.Jennings, C.Caisey (M.Hansey, 46 mins), P.Simmons (J.Smith, 68 mins), P.Clarke, T.Smith.

Referee: Roddy Burchall.

Men of the match: Paul Cann (Dandy Town), Philip Clarke (North Village).