NICK Holmes predicted that this contest between two sides who have over-achieved in their debut Conference South campaigns might be a dour one, and so it proved.

Last season's Ryman League winners Braintree Town and Salisbury City, promoted after lifting the Southern League, currently boast the meanest defences in the division - Town had not conceded in their three previous games - and Holmes was spot on as the play-off hopefuls shared the spoils in a goalless encounter in the heat at the Essex side's Cressing Road ground.

Although low on goalmouth drama, that was not necessarily the fault of either side's attackers.

Referee Evetts made life considerably easier for both defences by punishing any attempts by either set of strikers to steal a march on their markers.

Paul Sales and later on Robbie Matthews were constantly frustrated by the pernickety referee, blowing up for merely attempting to jump for the ball.

Braintree's James Baker suffered a similar fate at the other end, though his frustration at the situation eventually led to him being yellow-carded.

On a flat, but hard pitch, City looked lively enough early on.

Jerome Watt won the ball in midfield on four minutes before whipping in a fine cross which Nicky Morgan gathered just before Sales could connect with it.

Four minutes later, the Northampton Town youngster, playing his final game on loan for City before returning to the Coca-Cola League One side, was upended after receiving the ball from a Matt Robinson throw-in. Watt's free kick beat the two-man wall, but again Morgan was in a good position to save comfortably.

Whites had Braintree under the cosh for a busy five minute spell, which almost led to them breaking the deadlock.

Sales played in Luke Prince who had a shot blocked, Danny Clay then released Scott Bartlett, whose cross was cleared before Matt Tubbs forced a corner.

City skipper Aaron Cook rose well to meet Prince's cross but, according to the referee, had fouled his marker en route.

It wasn't all one-way traffic though and Ryan Clarke made a stunning one-handed save on 22 minutes to keep out the hosts.

Whites were again the busier in the second half and within five minutes of the restart should have been in front.

Prince's curling free-kick brought a fine save from Morgan at the expense of a corner.

Prince's cross was cleared only as far as Clay, whose delivery to Cook's head was perfect. Unfortunately, the skipper glanced the ball wide.

Tubbs wasn't too far off target with a first time shot following a long clearance from Clarke.

But on the hour mark, Clarke could only parry a decent strike by Bertie Brayley into the path of Robbie Martin, who struck the post with the net at his mercy.

Both Clay and Watt suffered knocks on the hard surface and were replaced by Matt Holmes and Jon Beswetherick respectively, as the game petered out into a draw which keeps both sides on course for the play-offs.

Holmes said afterwards: "All in all it was probably a fair result.

"Both sides had a couple of chances, but with pitches like that when two sides are committed it's difficult. It's roasting hot and it's bumpy as hell.

"To be fair, the referee was consistent but he seemed quite happy to whistle for fouls for both sides that weren't really there."

Holmes added: "Danny's had a problem with his hamstring for some time, so we got Matty (Holmes) on.

"We wanted to win the game and I was just preparing to get Marvin (Brown) on, but Jerome said he'd seized up, so we had to get Bes (Jon Beswetherick) on instead.

"But it's another point and we're a little bit closer to where we want to be."