THE law of averages duly came into play at Victory Park where the two UniBond First Division teams without a draw to date after a combined total of 26 matches finally shared the spoils.

Leek's point was the reward for diligent, in-depth defending, their attack causing Chorley few problems, but the Magpies will reflect on chances which slipped away in a match they could have won.

Chorley might have had a couple of goals in the first five minutes, David Sutch testing Leek's keeper Kevin Welsby with an overhead shot and then Paul Fleming forcing the keeper to tip a low 25-yard drive round the post.

The best opportunity fell to David Eatock who jinked past Welsby only to shoot into the side-netting.

Leek created little until the 34th minute when Dave Whittaker fired over from a clear position and moments later Simon Tucker forced Simon Marsh into an excellent reflex save at his near post.

Chorley continued to make most of the running after the break and David Sutch was inches away from converting Neil Mitchell's low cross but the longer the match went on the more a stalemate looked inevitable.

Ken Wright introduced substitute Andy Mason, one of the division's leading scorers, but still shooting chances were few.

However, with seven minutes remaining, the tireless Eatock worked himself an opening inside the box and a goal looked certain but Welsby again reacted superbly to dash from his line and divert the well-placed shot.

At the other end, there was a late scare for Chorley when Mark Donnelly's raking low cross eluded two inrushing Leek attackers.

New signing David Lowe was absent from Chorley's midfield owing to illness and, with Danny Mills again below par, the driving force which might have unlocked the dogged Leek defence was missing.

RESULT: CHORLEY...0 LEEK TOWN...0