BURTON Albion’s Professional Development Phase side were held to a 0-0 draw by Harrogate Town at St George’s Park.
With neither side able to find a breakthrough, Burton were forced to settle for a point to add to their EFL Youth Alliance League tally.
The visitors started the brighter of the two sides and went close to the opener in the ninth minute when Lewis Smalley headed over form Oliver Nicholson’s corner.
Burton responded with a chance of their own just three minutes later as Kiyan Baker-McKay latched onto Connor Pace’s ball over the top and lobbed the ball over the onrushing Alex Mooney in the Harrogate goal, only to see his effort land narrowly wide.
The Brewers had the ball in the net in the 19th minute when Will Ademiluyi tucked home following neat build-up play from Charlie Knowles and Jack Newall, but the goal was ruled out for offside.
Harrogate went close again in the 32nd minute when good play down the right wing set up Jack McClarin, but he dragged his shot wide from inside the area.
The best chance of the half came in the 43rd minute, when Burton ‘keeper Spencer Tootell produced a superb save to deny Finn O’Boyle at his near post.
HALF TIME: BURTON ALBION 0-0 HARROGATE TOWN
The second half began with Burton in the ascendancy and they again came close to the breakthrough in the 52nd minute, when Newall forced a strong save from Mooney down to his left hand side.
Mooney was on hand to deny the Brewers again in the 58th minute, as he held on to Ronny Wakelin’s long range effort.
Harrogate striker Emmanuel Ilesanmi then had two huge chances to put his side ahead, first in the 70th minute when he curled into the gloves of Tootell from just inside the area.
Then, just a minute later Ilesanmi missed a golden opportunity, turning the ball wide from around four yards out after Josh Brodella had cut the ball back from the byline.
In the 74th minute, Burton were forced into a change, with young ‘keeper Tommy Miller called upon to replace the injured Tootell.
Miller produced a fine stop in stoppage time to prevent Harrogate snatching all three points, as he turned Brodella’s effort aside, before Josh Taroni made a goal-saving block on the rebound.
Burton’s PDP side continue their EFL Youth Alliance campaign on Saturday, when they travel to the North East to face Hartlepool United.
FULL TIME: BURTON ALBION 0-0 HARROGATE TOWN
Albion: Tootell (Miller 74’), Knowles, Ranger, Pace, Bilton, Taroni, Baker-McKay, Wakelin, Ademiluyi (Svarc 78’), Newall, Mtenga
Unused Subs: Flynn, Frost