Dartford were held to a goalless draw by fellow National League South play-off contenders Oxford City on Saturday.

Chances were at a premium on a chilly afternoon at Princes Park as both teams struggled to get on top.

Oxford arrived at Princes Park in top form, having lost just once in their last 17 league games and it was easy to see why as they looked a well-drilled side.

While the visitors tried to play the ball out from the back and work overloads out wide, Dartford hit areas although too many times there was not a team-mate there and it ended up with the hosts giving up possession too cheaply.

Fresh from his winner on Tuesday night, Keiran Murtagh had an early effort blocked behind for a corner before Alex Wall tried an ambitious shot from an acute angle that never troubled keeper Adnan Kanuric.

Wall was booked for a late challenge on Lewis Miccio, the visitors seemingly achieving their first objection on the day’s checklist which was to get the Darts striker a yellow card as every time a challenge was made the opponent went down in agony only to make a swift recovery within 60 seconds.

As an attacking force, Oxford didn’t get a clear sight of goal in the first 45 minutes. Little balls around the edge of the box were met by a determined Dartford defence. When former Gills striker Josh Parker did make space on the edge of the box his wayward shot managed to go well wide and clear the stand to end up in the car park.

It needed a smart piece of work by Kanuric on the stroke of half-time to deny AFC Wimbledon loanee Isaac Ogundere – playing on the right side of midfield – a clear sight of goal after Luke Coulson’s clever through ball.

Parker went closer from distance early in the second half before Alfie Potter drilled a 20-yard shot narrowly over the bar as Oxford again settled quickest.

Dartford turned to Malachi Napa in a bid to inject some attacking intent down the right on the hour mark.

Miccio was booked on 65 minutes for a foul on Jack Smith on the edge of the box but Coulson put the resulting free-kick well over the bar.

Josh Ashby sent a shot just wide of the upright as Dartford didn’t get tight enough in and around their own box. Then Tom Bonner’s clearance went straight to Zac McEachran but he didn’t make him pay, a deflected shot going over for a corner.

Then, with 10 minutes left, Parker thought he was going to put Oxford ahead but he nodded wide at the far post after Darts were caught napping. It then needed an excellent Connor Essam block with four minutes left to deny Oxford a late winner.

Dartford: Dudzinski, Ogundere (Napa 59mins), Essam, Bonner, Meade, Wynter (Allen 80mins), Murtagh, Smith, Statham, Coulson, Wall (Fonkeu 80mins). Subs not used: Wilks, Allen, Campbell.

Oxford City: Kanuric, Miccio, Ashby, Burley, Coyle, Fleet, McEachran, Parker, Potter, Williams-Bushell, Carroll. Subs not used: Davies, Iaciofano, Carrow, Grantham.

Referee: Andrew Humphries.

Attendance: 1,018.