Week 9 and the battle for a qualification from League B was really beginning to hot up. At the midway point a glance at the fixture list identified Jiggle v Hunchenbadback in Week 9 as a potentially decisive fixture. Results since then had done nothing to dissuade the pundit from that view with the two sides trading blow for blow, point for point and almost goal for goal. It wasn�t quite winner takes all but tonight�s victor would take a mighty step towards a place in the last eight. Would it be Jiggle looking for a fourth win on the bounce or Hunchenbadback seeking a fifth win in six? The scene was set for a classic encounter.

FC Jiggle 0 Hunchenbadback 0

It�s as you were at the top of League B after Jiggle and Hunchenbadback cancelled each other out in a bruising and largely uninspiring clash. With the two sides now possessing a remarkable 14 clean sheets between them this season this was surely the result any serious punter would have had his mortgage on.

The two sides met a year ago today at an identical stage of Autumn 2002 and ground out a turgid goalless draw. This meeting never truly threatened to provide anything different with both sides making sure nothing was given away in the nip and tuck battle at the top of the division.

The scene was set for a real six-pointer. The two sides have matched each other blow for blow this season and a close battle was anticipated. Jiggle restored Jon Hawtin and Sam Cohen to the starting line-up so Dave Carling and Nick Rapley reverted to the bench. With Andy Chong on crutches and set to miss the last three weeks it was as you were at the back with David Leake partnering Stuart MacPherson, scorer of that cracking winner against Resident Weasels last Friday. The first goal tonight looked like it would be more important than usual as Jiggle and Hunchenbadback have won 10 matches between them over the Autumn, all achieved to nil.

It was a tight and cagey first period with the two sides sussing each other out largely at arms length. Hunchenbadback came closest to striking the first blow but Phil Laker was on his toes to divert away a sharp shot with just over a minute on the clock.

The Hunch were having the better of the early possession with Jiggle finding it hard to get the ball down with Sam Cohen and Jon Hawtin getting little change out of an uncompromising defensive duo. Despite this early control however the Jiggle goal remained largely unthreatened.

A bruising battle was developing with Stu and Sam both taking heavy challenges and Stu picking up a nasty gash in a competitive first half. Stu had Jiggle�s best chance to break the deadlock, advancing into the final third as he�d done to explosive effect last week but this week opted to play-in Sam and the chance passed by. Jiggle finished the half positively with at last a bit of pressure being applied to the Hunch defenders.

Both teams were keen to give nothing away and defences remained on top throughout the second-half. Hunchenbadback seemed to adopt a shoot on sight policy after the break but three efforts from very optimistic range failed to trouble the Jiggle keeper.

A couple of well-timed blocks denied Sam Cohen and Dave Carling the chance to test the Hunch keeper and the latter made three strong interventions of his own as Jiggle sought to press the game more into opposition territory.

David Leake and Stuart MacPherson were both having solid games ensuring the Jiggle defence stood firm but it was Hunchenbadback who came closest to a winner with Phil Laker called into action three minutes from time to claw a curved shot through a crowd of players away from the bottom corner. Dave Leake was then harshly adjudged to have brought down an attacker two yards outside the box but Dave Carling in the wall stood firm to ensure danger was snuffed out.

The best effort of the match was saved till the final minute as Dave Leake�s headed clearance fell invitingly for an attacker who dispatched his volley inches wide of the post with keeper beaten. Definitely a relief, but the full-time whistle soon after meant a hard-fought, if unspectacular point had been earned.

With honours even, Gilly�s Heroes should have been the main winners tonight assuming they beat Motley Crew. The Blues however have been brought back into the picture after a 5-0 reverse to Caledonian. Next week it�ll all be up for grabs again and Jiggle have the advantage of being up first with a 6.30 kick-off against a Two Left Feet side who have been in good form of late and beat Livingwell tonight for their third win of the season. The Jigglers will be gunning for a quality performance to put some real pressure on the rest. See you next week!

Team: Phil Laker, David Leake, Stuart MacPherson, Jon Hawtin, Sam Cohen. Subs. Nick Rapley (for Jon Hawtin), Dave Carling (for Sam Cohen).