FC Halifax Town were left to rue a series of missed chances after a superb second-half performance failed to produce what had seemed an inevitable goal in a 0-0 draw at Frickley, the first goalless match under Neil Aspin.
Aspin named an unchanged line-up from Saturday's opening day win over Buxton, with Jamie Vardy overcoming a minor knock to take his place on the left-wing as Neil Aspin deployed the 4-5-1 system that worked to good effect in the 1-1 draw at Hyde during Town's pre-season campaign.
Frickley started brightly in response to their defeat at the weekend, firing in three shots in the first eight minutes in a busy opening period. Nick Gray was the Shaymen's best outlet early on with some foraging runs down the right, but both sides struggled to retain possession on a bobbly pitch.
Tom Baker had Town's first effort with a wayward volley after 20 minutes following good work from Aaron Hardy as the right-hand flank continued to be the most productive area of the pitch for the visitors.
Both sides were forced into a few back passes to their respective 'keepers due to the uneven playing surface; an option fraught with potential dangers that carried with it concerns of a repeat of Paul Robinson's gaffe for England in Croatia every time it was attempted.
Halifax's back-line defended well when called upon against the mainly aerial Frickley attacks, displaying a reassuring level of composure against the home side's pacy front two.
Danny Holland put in his customary hard shift up-front, but it was to little avail in the first-half as both teams found it awkward to control the ball on the unpredictable pitch.
It was no surprise to see Aspin make two changes at the interval, with Scott Metcalfe and Nathan Taylor brought on for Holland and Simon Garner, providing an injection of pace to the proceedings.
Town's best chance of the night so far arrived five minutes after the break when Gray was played in down the right before he crossed for Vardy in the middle of the area, but the forward directed his header over the bar.
It was an encouraging start to the second-half, and was immediately followed by a barrage of corners as the away side cranked up the pressure.
After 55 minutes, Baker's tenacity won the ball in midfield before his vision picked out Vardy to send him clean through, but the striker's low drive curled agonizingly away from the far post and just out of reach of the on-rushing Taylor.
Vardy had another chance on the hour mark after a bustling run into the box, but another low drive again ended up just wide of the far post with the goalkeeper beaten.
Then came the Shaymen's second free-kick from a back pass in as many games, but this one was harshly awarded as the defender's strong tackle just happened to be directed into the arms of Adam Nicklin.
Tom Baker fired in a low shot from about 10 yards out, but, much like Danny Holland on Saturday, saw his shot blocked by the string of defenders on the goal line.
Town were flying now though, with Vardy in on goal again, but his goal bound effort dribbled towards goal after beating the 'keeper to the ball, but Frickley cleared it in the nick of time.
Vardy's night of misfortune was completed soon afterwards when he was replaced by Richard Marshall after a particularly robust challenge.
Taylor was next to let another chance go by after he spun away from a defender, but what his shot had in power it lacked in accuracy and it flew high and wide, leaving Aspin with his head in his hands.
To say Frickley were under the cosh at this point would be akin to describing The Beatles as 'quite popular', but still a richly deserved goal would not materialize, despite the corner count reaching double figures.
As the game wore on though, the chances became few and far between and what would have been a fully merited victory was instead a draw and a night of what might have been.
Frickley: Nicklin, Fisher, Chapman, Walsh, Heath, Jones ©, McGuire, Dunning, Lee (Lee 80), O'Rafferty, Henry. Subs Not Used: Sturdy, Turner, Nodder, Simpson
Shots On Target: 2, Shots Off Target: 3, Corners: 3
