Aldershot & Farnham ended a run of four league defeats – but were unable to record a much-needed win as they were held to a goalless stalemate in London at Blackheath & Elthamians.

First-team coach Ian Jennings appreciates the standard of hockey in the South East Premier means points will always be hard to come by.

“I think this league has three separate groups within it,” he said,

“There are a clear four at the top, then another four – which is where I see us – and then the lower four.

“Our aim is to be at the top of the middle group or bottom of the top group.

“We have dropped silly points which hopefully we will be able to turn round when we play the return fixtures.”

Jennings was happy to end the run of defeats but said: “I think this game highlighted where we are struggling, and that is with open-play goals.

“Our corner routine isn’t quite firing and the quality of goalkeepers we are facing is equal to our own.

“But when we get the chance in front of goal, we’ve at least got to make the goalie make a save and not miss the target altogether.”

Johnson has ruled out making more signings during the Christmas break to strengthen his line-up.

“We have what we have and that is a bare 16,” he said.

“With unavailability and potential injury concerns it’s going to be a tough ask for this group to achieve my aim, but we will continue to push as hard as we can.

“When others might take their foot off the accelerator we will go as hard as we can for as long as we can.

“I’m very proud of what my players are able to achieve despite the limitations.”

After a week of intensive training A&F went into the game in a positive mood, but got off to a sluggish start.

Blackheath came out in a full court press, looking to prevent A&F’s back three from being the launchpad for attacking play.

The Blackheath forwards were running hard across the front and dragging A&F’s defence a bit more than they would have liked.

A&F stuck to their plan, however, and started to find ways through the intense press.

With the opposition pressing high, they were having to leave gaps and the pitch opened up for Stu Morhall on the right flank. His direct running drew a foul and A&F’s first opportunity to get something on goal, but Scott Perry was denied by a decent save.

Then it was A&F’s turn to impose their press on to the game. Blackheath were struggling to find space in the midfield and were reduced to hopeful aerials for their willing forward runners, which were ineffective against the A&F defensive line.

When they weren’t throwing aerials, Blackheath were turning over the ball to A&F’s midfield. Chris Boot went closest after he nicked the ball, drove into the D and unleashed a strike to the back post where Jonny Groves was waiting, but he wasn’t able to deflect it in.

This pattern continued until half-time with Blackheath only rarely threatening on the break, even less often when they were reduced to ten because of a green card.

Hamish Hall was forced into action a couple of times but was more than capable of maintaining his clean sheet, saving well on a couple of occasions.

As with previous weeks, the finishing touches were evading the A&F strikers.

They continued to press forward through the second half and Perry was again frustrated by some fortunate saves by the Blackheath short corner defence and couldn’t make the breakthrough.

Blackheath were beginning to feel the effects of their intense start and were slowing down.

Josh Frost was the next to benefit as strong build-up play down the left saw the ball flash across goal. Frost collected unmarked in the middle of the D but could only fire wide under pressure from the goalkeeper.

The press for a winner was opening up the game up. A&F were keeping it tight at the back, but Blackheath’s obvious danger remained as they continued to rotate their forward line to try to maintain some freshness.

Blackheath were buoyed by a green card to Chris Boot, taking one for the team to break up a counter-attack and allow A&F to get back into their defensive shape to keep their clean sheet intact.

A&F got through the sin bin period unscathed and then got straight back on the front foot for the final five minutes.

One final short corner was fired from Perry and deflected towards goal. The keeper hadn’t moved but the ball bounced off him out of harm’s way.

The stalemate meant A&F had ended their losing streak but will again be disappointed with not winning a game they dominated.

Woking visit Heath End this weekend for a local derby in the final fixture before the Christmas break as A&F aim to finish the year on a high with a win.

Kevin McCafferty