Dunlop and Kenilworth Wardens shared an exciting 0-0 to dent the host's title challenge.

Top of the league Dunlop were firm favourites going into the game having beaten Kenilworth four times in a row, and the visitors missing their entire front line including talismanic striker Dan Twigger.

The game started with Dunlop dominating possession albeit without troubling Tom Day in the Wardens goal.

Kenilworth had the best chance to open the scoring when a Jack Boden corner was met by a free Alex Cockburn, but he could not direct his header on target. 

The host's pressure started to increase and they had their best chance of the game 20 minutes in when an excellent ball found Habib Salim however his finish was narrowly wide. 

Despite having little of the ball, Kenilworth and in particular makeshift striker Boden looked dangerous on the counter.

On 25 minutes Eamonn Richards played the ball to Boden on the half way line, he turned, beat his man before racing into the box, but his shot went narrowly wide.

A few moments later another Richards pass found Boden, who took the ball past several Dunlop players and found James Brewitt in the box. Brewitt held off two Dunlop players and laid it to Diarmuid Winston, whose shot was well saved by the Dunlop keeper. 

Wardens had another chance, albeit completely against run of play, on 33 minutes when captain James Butler's cross was only cleared up in the air to Hayden Twycross. His free header was saved but fell to Boden whose volley went agonisingly wide. 

The last 10 minutes of the first half saw Dunlop start to turn possession and domination into chances.

A clever pass again found Salim but his cross shot went right across the goal with no-one to tap it in.

Moments later an excellent cross found Jack Campbell-Watkins free at the back post, but he could not direct his header goal bound.

With the last kick of the first half the lively Jack Archer took the ball on the left before beating two players and crossing, narrowly missing all players two yards out for a tap in.

Wardens were the happier of two sides as the half time whistle was called.

The second half settled into a routine of complete Dunlop domination on the ball and territory but without being able to break down or make meaningful chances against an excellent Wardens defence.

Day only had to make routine saves from long shots, whilst Alex Bradley, Alex Waters, Cockburn and Butler made countless last ditch goal saving challenges. 

With 15 minutes left Wardens nearly took an undeserved lead, again Richards passed to Boden on the half way line, who beat his man but his shot went again narrowly wide. 

With the game drifting to a 0-0, all the drama happened in the last three minutes of the game.

A poor Wardens goal kick was intercepted 40 yards out and played in for a one on one. Dunlop's strikers shot appeared goal bound, with Dunlop's bench already on the pitch celebrating, only for it to hit the inside of the post and fall gratefully back onto Day's arms.

Moments later a Brewitt interception and pass found Boden who flicked the ball onto substitute James Grant. As he went to shoot he appeared to be fouled for a stonewall penalty however it was not given.

Within 30 seconds Dunlop were through on goal, the striker shot went well wide but Day's attempt to save was adjudged to be a penalty.

However the referee quickly realised the early flag for offside and ruled with the linesman. Within the ensuing chaos Dunlop's captain was sent off for his enthusiastic views on the referee's decision. 

Despite being only 30 seconds left and Dunlop down to 10 men, they still managed to create two chances but both missed their target for the game to finish in a stalemate. 

"Dunlop are an excellent side with technical and physical footballers whom are well drilled and fluid in possession, Richards said after the game.

"They looked like a team top of the league and play like one.

"Sure they'd be disappointed not to win today and if I was in their position I would be too. 

"However, we were excellent today. That back five of Tom in goal, Alex Waters, Bradley, Cockburn and James Butler have played together six times and have kept five clean sheets. That's the sixth clean sheet of the year we've had, two more than any season we've had.

"They were all excellent today. 

"The work rate, discipline, communication and concentration today was amazing. Dunlop are so good that every time one player lost concentration for a second they had a chance.

"Our recent training sessions have concentrated on our back four and two defensive midfielders v 10/11 players and all that training showed today.

"Not just them either, the front four worked tirelessly and produced moments of quality. Hayden and Diarmuid looked like men today playing rather than kids for the first time and Jack was excellent up top on his own. 

"Not often a draw feels like a win but today it did, we take that attitude and performance levels to every game for the rest of the season and this year will be fun"