RINGWOOD Town were made to rue a hatful of chances as they shared the points with East Cowes Victoria in a 0-0 draw at Long Lane, reports Andy Jones.

With both sides languishing above the bottom three of the Wessex Division One, victory would have put welcome distance between the winners and the drop zone.

However, Richard Morse’s side were left wondering how they didn’t manage to take all three points in a game they dominated.

Ringwood lined up with an almost full-strength squad with only Joe Manley unavailable with a hamstring injury.

Part of Ringwood’s ability to keep a clean sheet was the fact they kept prolific East Cowes striker Jimmi Burton quiet, with Vics’ number nine boasting 19 goals so far this campaign.

A vocal Ringwood side started brightly and within the first minute they had carved out the first opportunity of the game.

Harry Smith was able to lay the ball off for captain Ben Harris, whose shot from the edge of the box was hit low and hard - but could not find its way through a sea of orange legs.

Ringwood continued to press in the opening 10 minutes and looked the side most likely to score, but on occasions looked susceptible to the counterattack.

Smith then had a chance about 20 minutes in after Horton slipped the striker in on goal with a wonderful through ball.

However, the Ringwood man was unable to convert the chance as he bore down on Alex Ram in the Vics’ goal, blasting his shot straight at the keeper - the first real chance of the game.

At the other end, Ringwood keeper Joel Hirdle produced a brilliant point-blank save to ensure Morse’s side registered just their second clean sheet of the campaign.

There were more opportunities for the home side as Smith pulled a shot wide, before Harris followed up by coming agonizingly close to getting a boot on the end of a cross from Hamm, but the ball flashed across the six-yard box.

Town were unable to find a breakthrough in the first-half, but continued to dominate in the second period.

Shortly after the hour mark Smith spurned Town’s best chance. The striker beat Vics keeper Alex Ram to the ball, only to lift his shot over the bar with the empty net gaping.

The home side had created plenty of chances to win the game and as the clock ticked down there was a sense that no goals would come no matter what they tried.

Taylor came close to a winner with just over five left to play, but a last-ditch tackle saw the striker denied a chance to shoot as he rounded the keeper.

Substitute Nick Magee almost scored with his first touch, connecting well with a corner but his header glanced agonizingly past the far post.

Jack Barton nearly clinched the winner on the stroke of full time as he rose highest to connect with a Fay cross, but his effort whistled just wide of the post and again Ringwood were left wondering what they had to do to score.

Town are still without a win in the league since the start of November, when they beat local neighbours Verwood Town 3-1 at Potterne Park.

The result leaves Ringwood in 16th on 19 points and East Cowes remain a point behind the Hampshire-based club in 17th on 18 points in the Wessex League.

Ringwood: Hirdle, Mason, Hitchings (Knight, 63), Clark, Barton, Horton, Smith (Taylor, 67), Petty, Hamm, Harris, Fay

Unknown sub: Magee

Unused subs: Reilly, Smith, Knight