WITHAM Town fought out a gritty but gripping goalless draw with Basildon United at the Simarco Stadium, writes JIM PURTILL.

Both sides needed points to move up the Pitching In Isthmian League division north table.

And while it was disappointing for Witham to gain one point instead of three, they can find consolation in the continuing incremental improvement in the results of their young squad, which included only one player over the age of 25.

There was little action of any significance in the early part of the match.

The first good move by either side arrived in the 18th minute when Ramiah Mills broke away on the right wing for Witham.

His cross almost found strike partner Adam Cheniti but the ball was cleared for a corner.

A goalmouth scramble ensued from Ben Search’s corner but a defensive clearance snuffed out the danger in an early portent of things to come.

Ayo Olukoga shot wide in the 28th minute for Witham and repeated the feat shortly afterwards.

Basildon midfielder and former Witham midfielder Ahmed Mohammed was sent off in the 32nd minute for an ugly challenge on Ben Search.

It was not malicious but it was uncharacteristically reckless.

Most of the action before the red card had been in the Basildon half.

Any Basildon attacks were confidently repelled by the Witham rearguard in which Luke Ige and Rian McLean excelled.

The numerical advantage encouraged Witham to attack even more. Jack Nolde and Olukoga were active on the left and Mills showed his customary eagerness but the home side struggled to keep possession and build a good move before the half-time break.

The second half opened in the same vein with Witham attacking.

Ben Search had a great chance to open the scoring within three minutes of the break but made it far too easy for Emmanuel Olajide in the Basildon goal to save.

Ezekeiel Bademosi went close in the 52nd minute for Basildon’s first real chance.

It was followed ten minutes later by a good shot from substitute Alexander Balisani which was well saved by Rhys Madden in the Witham goal.

In the intervening period Witham attacked continually but the quality did not match the effort.

Nolde and Ige had good runs down the left but their crosses under pressure were hurried and inaccurate.

Despite their territorial superiority, the home side struggled to find a way through the crowded Basildon defence as quality in the final third proved elusive.

Search worked hard to orchestrate a telling move but Valckx Fernandes and Mohammed Amghar marshalled the Basildon vanguard and frustrated the home side.

Basildon threatened on the break with Balisani and fellow substitute Dan Okah making outstanding contributions to the attack.

Okah twice delivered menacing crosses and Madden pulled off two fine saves. At the opposite end Olajide was also busy but had an easier afternoon as he was never tested.

Witham substitute Lews Duberry added quality when he was introduced but the home side ultimately failed to navigate a way through the packed away defence.

Basildon deserve credit for holding on for a point with a man down.

Chris Taylor is a young manager learning the ropes. Every match is different and this one will have learning points for his young squad as they continue to grow in experience.

They need to find the momentum that is built on consistent results.

One defeat in the last five matches and two losses in the last eight are indications of progress in a season that has been challenging.