Notts County stepped up the pre-season preparations with a goalless draw against Nuneaton Town on Tuesday evening.
The majority of the Magpies’ starting 11 played 70 minutes in a match that lacked clear cut chances at both ends of the pitch.
Ronan Murray provided Notts’ best effort of the half and stung the palms of the home goalkeeper with a drive from the edge of the box.
County looked more of a threat going forward when Alan Smith moved into attack to partner Murray as part of a 4-4-2 formation.
Smith was unfortunate not to be awarded a penalty when he appeared to be prevented from capitalising on a goalkeeping error by a shirt pull, only for the referee to wave play on.
Fabian Spiess, who was eager to make a good impression following Bartosz Bialkowski’s move to Ipswich Town, made two impressive saves to deny the hosts - a reaction block with his legs and another to palm over his own crossbar.
County were given instructions to make better use of the wide areas at the break and were much improved in the opening stages of the second period.
Numerous dangerous deliveries were fired in by the trialist wideman Adam Dawson and Jeremy Balmy, who had been introduced at the interval, but Notts were unable to take advantage.
After eight substitutions were made with 20 minutes remaining, Balmy made fine use of the left flank to set up Elliott Whitehouse but the trialist midfielder’s downward header was fantastically saved by stopper Reece Charles-Cooke,
Youth team left-back Kyle Symons prevented Nuneaton from gaining the lead late on with a heroic challenge that ensured the game ended 0-0.
Full Time Score: Nuneaton Town 0-0 Notts County
Attendance: 510
Notts County Starting 11: Spiess, Thompson, Hollis, Mullins, Keane, A Dawson, Smith, Noble, Wroe, Ismail, Murray.
Subs From: Andrews, Sixon, McKenzie, McGowan, Symons, Whitehouse, L Dawson, Balmy, Waite, Fyfe.
Look out for post-match reaction and highlights on Magpie Player.