SCARBOROUGH scrapped their way to a vital Nationwide Conference relegation point away to Chester in a goalless game not helped by a swirling wind and a fussy referee.

Former Boro striker and York City junior Chris Tate, making his debut for the hosts on loan from Leyton Orient, was lively early on and headed just over when Andy Woods failed to gather a cross.

But the best two chances of the game fell to Boro's Darryn Stamp in the last 15 minutes.

Mark Patterson's through ball sent him clear and when 'keeper Wayne Brown stopped in no-mans' land, all that was required was a simple lob to score. Stamp's effort went six yards wide.

Soon after, Stamp led a three-man break and with only one defender between him and goal, went for glory, but his shot hit the roof of the stand.

At the other end, Scarborough's defence soaked up the pressure to such an extent that Woods didn't have a real save to make.

Boro boss Russ Slade said: "It was a scrappy game and I think we shaded it with those late chances, but it's a good point and keeps Chester within touching distance."

Neil Mann missed the game as his wife gave birth to a son in the early hours of yesterday.

Chester: Brown, Lancaster, Bolland, Blackburn, Brabin, Rose, Carey, McElhatton, Whittaker (Woodyatt 53), Tate, Beesley (Haarhoff 65).

Scarborough: Woods, Rennison, Shepherd, Hotte, Blunt, Patterson, Stoker, Jordan, Pounder, Sugden (Rose 84), Stamp.

Ref: A Penn (Wolverhampton) Att: 1,475.

Harrogate Town increased their lead at the top of the UniBond League division one table with a solid 2-0 win at Chorley.

Iain Dunn came on for the injured Craig Elliott, who may now be out for a month with hamstring trouble, and missed a chance before setting up Robbie Whellans and Scott Bonsall to get second-half goals. Boss John Reed said: "Good teams always bounce back after a defeat and we did that in style."

Nearest challengers Eastwood and Radcliffe Borough, who beat Town 4-3 on Saturday, both lost.

In the Northern Counties East League premier division, Harro-gate Railway lost 2-1 at Arm-thorpe while Pickering's game against Goole was postponed.

Updated: 11:59 Wednesday, March 06, 2002