Barrow 0 AFC Telford 0

AFC TELFORD returned from their Blue Square Bet premier league opener at Barrow with a useful point after a difficult game.

Chances were at a premium at Holker Street with Steve Jones and Dan Preston coming closest to taking the points for The Bucks.

Both missed the target from close range but the hosts also squandered chances in an even encounter.

Bucks boss Andy Sinton handed starting league debuts to midfielder Steven Leslie as well as attacking duo Kieron St Aimie and Jake Reid.

And there were four further summer recruits on the bench in Luke Hubbins, James Spray, Jack Cudworth and Jon Brown. Defender Chris Blackburn was handed the captain's arm band for The Bucks.

One familiar face in Barrow's squad was summer Telford trialist Aaron Cole, who started on the bench for the hosts.

The game started slowly but Adam Boyes pulled a decent chance wide with 12 minutes gone for Barrow.

Leslie hit back for The Bucks with a sharp turn and shot from distance which forced a stretching save from Danny Hurst a minute later.

And Dan Preston then headed over with 15 minutes gone from a well-placed Leslie corner.

Leslie almost netted in the 27^th minute, volleying just wide from a useful knockdown and Reid went one on one with Hurst on the edge of the box after a powerful run seven minutes before the break but the keeper got down to deny the forward.

At the other end Danny Rowe forced a strong save by Ryan Young to finish a powerful run into the box in first half stoppage time.

St Aimie earned a yellow card 12 minutes after the restart for a foul on Gavin Skelton but Telford should have gone behind when James Owen blazed over from inside the box with 29 minutes left.

Steve Jones then fired over from an equally good position for Telford after a superb dribble into the box.

Both sides made changes in the final quarter of the game but it made no difference to the final score.

Barrow's Garry Hunter fired a good effort onto the roof of the net with nine minutes left but it finished honours even.