The Northampton Town U18s got their EFL Youth Alliance League campaign under way with a well-fought 0-0 draw with Peterborough United at Moulton College on Saturday morning.
The Cobblers were largely on top throughout, winning the midfield battle and creating more and better opportunities than their opponents.
The visitors dominated possession for the first 10 minutes and shot over the bar early on.
A deep cross found Ewan Clark who volleyed wide at the back-post moments later.
On the quarter-of-an-hour mark, a Cobblers free-kick routine forced the Posh keeper into a good save from a close-range header, but the flag was up so it would not have counted.
The best chance of the match came a minute later when Lewis Gilbert was played in over the top and shot just wide.
Five minutes later, Josh Tomlinson headed wide from six yards as the Cobblers threatened from another set-piece.
Liam Cross intercepted a loose ball on the halfway line and drove down the right, beating three men before firing wide soon after.
After half-an-hour, a dangerous Cross free-kick was flicked across goal, but it went out for a goal-kick.
The Posh recycled possession after a corner was cleared five minutes later, but the ball was skied over from the edge of the area.
The last opportunity of the first half came 10 minutes before the break when Liam Cross fired a free kick into the wall from the edge of the box.
The first half had been free flowing with lots of chances being created, but the second half was cagey and neither side could break the other down.
Tom Scott fired over from 18 yards with just over 10 minutes to go after Peterborough failed to properly deal with a scramble as the Cobblers had the only real sight of goal in the second period.
The Posh had a man sent off for a stamp on Scott less than a minute before the full-time whistle, which brought the tight, tense second half to an end.
Starting XI – Berry (GK); Bailey (C), Tomlinson, Dyche, Flanagan; Lack, Scott, Clark, Cross, Curry; Gilbert. Unused Subs – Woods (GK), Hill, Connor, Smith-Howes, O’Keefe.
Bookings – Dyche (Dissent), Cross (Foul).
Bookings – Dyche (Dissent), Cross (Foul).