A LETHARGIC Walshaw side travelled to fifth-placed Dukinfield and came away with nothing from a controversial game played in heavy conditions at Astley Sports College.

The second-placed visitors were behind within 10 minutes when a speculative shot from outside the box took a wicked deflection to wrong-foot Pearce in the Walshaw goal .

Tempers flared as Dukinfield foward Tyler Devlin was booked for a lunge on Brad Howarth. The home striker also had a prolonged altercation with John Blackley and was lucky to not receive a second booking minutes later for a foul on Dom Slaven.

Walshaw began to play the kind of football that has seen them go unbeaten in the league since early October, with Lee Bruce stinging the keepers’ hands with a free-kick and several half chances also going begging with the final killer ball lacking on the heavy pitch.

Dukinfield increased their lead on 70 minutes following a rare foray into the Walshaw half but the visitors got a deserved goal back when Luke Chapman finished from close range.

Five minutes later, Walshaw thought they were level when Brad Howarth’s cross was smashed home by Bruce, but the effort was ruled out for offside as Dukinfield held on for the win.

n Elton Vale’s home match against Royton Town was postponed.