CARL Macauley hailed his team’s determination to shut out opponents that had scored eight goals in their previous game following Witton Albion’s draw with Gainsborough.

They were rewarded with a fourth clean-sheet of the campaign in the Northern Premier League’s top-flight.

“Our lads never lost focus,” he reflected.

“For every set-piece, throw-in or corner they knew who they needed to mark at every moment.

“That’s a positive and it kept us in the game against a side that was second in the table before kick-off.”

Witton could not find a way through at the other end either, and went closest when Danny McKenna’s curling shot brushed a post in the second-half.

Albion were also denied a penalty when the match officials failed to spot Nathan Stainfield grab a fistful of Rob Hopley’s shirt to prevent him reaching a loose ball.

Macauley said: “They looked dangerous on the counter-attack, particularly in the latter stages, although we perhaps shaded the chances created.

“We’ve gone to-to-toe with them, and we deserve credit for how we defended against a side that I think will be a contender for promotion.

“When you play against an opponent with the experience and know-how that they have, then it’s so important to remain disciplined when they have the ball.

“I think we deserve credit for how we managed that part of the game.”

He told the Guardian that the return after injury of Anthony Gardner and Tom Owens, the former perhaps as early as next week, would boost a depleted squad.

Witton are also hopeful to have completed the registration of Shane Williams and Will Booth, both of them waiting on international clearance from the Welsh FA, by the end of the week.