CHARLIE Lakin rattled the woodwork twice late on and Charlie Williams had a goal ruled out for offside as Burton Albion's final pre-season friendly ended goalless at Belper Town.
On a warm evening at Christchurch Meadow, the Brewers brought a squad comprised of Academy graduates and scholars along with a handful of senior players for our final pre-season game before Saturday's big kick-off at Wycombe Wanderers.
Goalkeeper Dan Moore, who spent last season on loan at Belper before injury curtailed his season, started in net for the Brewers behind a back four comprising second-year scholar Finn Delap and young pro Ben Radcliffe alongside the more experienced Frazer Blake-Tracy and William Kokolo.
Terry Taylor and Ciaran Gilligan were in the centre of midfield with Lakin and Williams providing the width, behind a front two of Tom Hewlett and a trialist.
The first chance of note fell to Lakin, who took a low cross from the left in his stride after a neat dummy from the trialist, and the former Birmingham City man dinked the ball neatly over the keeper but Kyle Dixon's superb goalline clearance, hooking the ball over his own head, denied us an opener.
Trialist had the next chance in the 21st minute - doing well to create some space for himself and curling a powerful effort narrowly wide from 20 yards - before again firing an effort from distance that was well saved by the goalkeeper.
The second half saw Williams twice go close - firing a side-winder volley just over the bar in the 51st minute before playing a lovely one-two with Gilligan late on but seeing the keeper make an excellent save from a tight angle.
Lakin had two long-range efforts in the final few minutes that both cracked the woodwork - the second saw Williams run onto the ball and head home only for a tight offside call to go against the Albion man.
It proved a productive workout for the Brewers against a resilient Nailers side - who themselves threatened but found Albion's young backline and keeper Moore in good form.
BREWERS: Moore, Kokolo, Delap, Blake-Tracy (Nyahwema 62), Radcliffe, Taylor, Williams, Gilligan, Trialist, Hewlett (Scott 82), Lakin.