NEWTON Abbot Spurs failed to score for the fourth time in five games when they drew 0-0 away at Elburton Villa last night.

The travelling side, who haven’t won since March 8, mounted a late charge but couldn’t find a way past the battling Plymouth outfit.

A win for Ivybridge Town away at Dartmouth also meant that Marc Revell’s men dropped one place to fifth in the Peninsula Premier East standings.

Will Hancox curled an early chance over the bar for the visitors before the match reached its first real talking point at the other end.

Spurs stopper Joel Hawker-Patchett came flying off his line to bring down Adam MacPherson on the edge of the penalty area, referee Lee Dudman deciding that a free-kick alone was punishment enough.

The resulting set piece hit the wall and came to nothing, while MacPherson would last another couple of minutes before hobbling off with a hip injury.

Undeterred by the setback Villa finished the half on a high, and could have gone in at half-time in front had Stan Lane not fired over after being put clean through on goal.

Sam Stayt forced Hawker-Patchett into a save with his feet early in the second half, and moments later Spurs had the ball in the net.

Referee Dudman had already called play back for a foul by James Moxon when Toby Pullman sprinted clear and rolled an effort into the bottom corner.

Cam Dymond worked his way into some good positions as the second half progressed, but just couldn’t find the breakthrough that Elburton were after.

Revell rolled the dice by introducing midfield duo Gav Collins and Si Revell for the final 10 minutes, a move which almost paid dividends.

First Collins dragged a shot wide from just inside the 18-yard box, then Revell had a free-kick from range miraculously kept out by the face of home custodian Jack Dixon.

A Spurs corner deep into added time was swung right into the mixer but the home side held firm to keep their share of the points.

At full-time, Spurs boss Revell was left rueing another game where his side just couldn’t find a breakthrough in front of goal.

‘It’s almost like we can’t buy a goal,’ said Revell. ‘We scored against Okehampton at the weekend but that’s our fourth blank in five games.

‘How we didn’t score then I don’t know. If we’d scored early it could have been five or six – when we pressed a little bit harder we left ourselves a little bit exposed, but you do when you’re dominating a game.

‘I think we had the chances to win but when you’re not winning those things happen. When you are winning they go in freely.

‘I’ve seen other teams in our league this season play worse than that and score four or five, but that’s just how it is. We can’t be too negative.’

Revell also acknowledged the impact of his substitutions, which so nearly swayed the result in his side’s favour.

‘I know what Si and Gav have both got,’ added Revell. ‘But Gav’s groin has been tight and Si has been struggling with his hamstrings.

‘I like the fact that we have something on the bench. They weren’t on the bench because they’re not performing, they were on the bench because they weren’t fit enough.

‘That being said, you can bring as many subs on as you want – if you’re not going to score, you’re not going to score.

‘This squad always gives me food for thought, and if the people on the pitch aren’t doing the job I have quality players on the bench who can step in.

‘It gives me 10 days now before the Bovey game to mull it over and probably change my side 20 times in my head!’

The Spurs have no fixture this weekend. Their next game is the local derby away at Bovey Tracey on Good Friday (11am).