WREXHAM were unable to record back to back league wins for the first time this season as they were held to a goalless draw against Rushden and Diamonds at Nene Park last night.
Saturday’s 1-0 victory against AFC Wimbledon had given Wrexham the lift they needed following a lengthy spell of activity because of the wintry weather.
And based on their second half efforts, they were well worth a second successive victory against play-off chasing Rushden.
But Wrexham were unable to take their chances in front of goal despite producing a vastly improved second half display.
In the end, Wrexham had a credible draw to show for their efforts and are now two games unbeaten.
It had been largely uninspiring first half from Wrexham who lacked any fluency and carved out few openings. There was little goalmouth action at either end in fact, although the better chances fell to Rushden.
Wrexham’s only decent scoring chance fell to Lamine Sakho who was unable to put away his one-on-one opportunity.
The sides had been evenly matched but Wrexham needed to make more of an impact after the break, and there was a big improvement in their attacking play.
With Wrexham coming more into the game, they had the better second half scoring opportunities, and Frank Sinclair saw his effort strike the post and the underside of the bar as Wrexham kept pressing for a winner.
But not for the first time this season, Wrexham failed to put away the chances that came their way and they had to settle for a share of the spoils.
And they had keeper Sam Russell to thank for securing a point with some excellent saves, the best of which came in added time as he clawed the ball away one handed to deny Rushden three points.
Although it was not the victory Saunders was looking for, he can pleased his side emerged unbeaten from the trip to one of the division’s form teams.
Wrexham will aim to extend their unbeaten run on Saturday when they make the trip to Altrincham.
The starting line-up showed one change from the side that beat AFC Wimbledon on Saturday in Wrexham’s first league match for seven weeks.
Leading scorer Gareth Taylor, who netted his tenth goal of the season against the Dons, sustained an ankle injury in the victory so his place in the side went to Curtis Obeng.
It was not a straight change so Saunders shuffled his pack with Obeng lining up on the right of midfield, Wes Baynes switching flanks from the right to the left and Lamine Sakho moving from the wing to take over from Taylor in attack.
Rushden, who overcame Barrow 4-1 on Saturday, fielded an unchanged team. The side included former Wrexham striker Jefferson Louis, on target twice at the weekend, who has extended his loan deal from Crawley Town until the end of the season.
With neither side stamping their authority on the game, the opening exchanges were scrappy and Sakho should have capitalised on a defensive slip but he mis-kicked when a decent pass would have put strike partner Andy Mangan clear on 12 minutes.
The first scoring chance fell to Rushden four minutes later as Lee Tomlin latched onto a long ball forward and centred from the left for striker Craig Farrell who struck the top of the bar from close range.
But from keeper Sam Russell’s resulting clearance, Wrexham could have taken the lead themselves within 60 seconds as Baynes put Sakho through on goal but his shot was superbly blocked by Rushen shot-stopper Dale Roberts.
While neither side was dominating, Rushden were enjoying most of the possession and they began to carve out more openings.
Curtis Osano’s 25-yard drive only just cleared the bar, Russell went full-stretch to prevent Tomlin's curling drive finding the corner of the net and Farrell headed over following a well worked move.
Wrexham were not being put under any sustained pressure but play-maker Tomlin took advantage of hesitant defending after 36 minutes to deliver a cross for midfielder Mark Byrne who converted from six yards, but the goal was disallowed for offside.
Baynes was off target with a 30-yard free-kick but Rushden hit back through right-back Osano who ventured forward once again and his long range shot was tipped over the bar by Russell.
The sides went in at the break goalless and Saunders’ response was to replace Obeng with Jamie McCluskey for the start of the second period.
Christian Smith’s 51st minute drive lacked enough power to trouble Roberts while Mangan’s dipping volley was gathered by the Rushden keeper.
At the other end, Rushden substitute Aaron O’Connor fired wide from inside the area as another promising opening went to waste.
However, Wrexham almost took the lead after 69 minutes, when Baynes’ free-kick was played back into the area by Silvio Spann for Frank Sinclair whose effort hit the post and then the underside of the bar, with Mangan was unable to put the loose ball away.
O’Connor was only inches away at Rushden countered but the game continued to swing from end to end and Baynes brought a save out of Roberts while Smith just failed to get on the end of a Spann cross.
Mangan was replaced by Obi Anoruo after 77 minutes to give Wrexham some fresh legs in attack, and he brought a point-blank save out of Roberts in injury time but opposite number Russell made a fantastic save to keep out Byrne’s header at the other end to earn Wrexham a point.
RUSHDEN AND DIAMONDS (4-4-2): Roberts 7; Osana 7, Stuart 6, Downer 6, Robinson 6; Wolleaston 6 (Porter 66), Terry 7, Byrne 7, Tomlin 7; Farrell 6(Smith 77), Louis 6 (O'Connor 46).
Subs not used: Day, Corcoran.
WREXHAM (4-4-2): Russell 7; Spann 6, Westwood 7, Assoumani 7, Sinclair 7; Obeng 6 (McCluskey 46), Fleming 6, Smith 7, Baynes 7; Mangan 6, Sakho 6.
Subs not used: Mike Williams, Fairhurst, McCluskey, Anoruo, Maxwell.