Garry Flitcroft’s cup-battlers go into the hat for this evening’s televised FA Cup first round draw but have it all still to do in the replay of this fourth qualifying round tie at The Shay tomorrow after two uncompromising sides finished locked in goalless stalemate.

The ingredients were there for a memorable cup-tie – TV exposure in the build-up to the match, a huge and expectant crowd of 2,333 and the tantalising prospect of the Magpies upsetting a higher-ranking team. But the game itself, full of commitment but short on subtlety, failed to match the occasion.

Chorley were up against a Halifax team big and strong in all departments and home hitman James Dean in particular was well-shackled by the Shaymen’s skipper Marc Roberts.

But the Magpies’ rearguard was equally effective with Andy Teague and Tom Smyth an impressive central-defence pair.

Behind them, on-loan keeper Danny Nizic, an emergency signing from Burnley on Friday as a replacement for Sam Ashton, displayed confident handling and positioning, though he was seriously tested only once.

The visitors opened with great purpose and Kyle Jacobs scooped a dangerous ball out of the home goalmouth before the Magpies came close to bagging the lead.

A defender got in a vital block at close quarters as Josh Hine let fly and when the wide man regained possession and centred, Dean flashed a header just past the back post.

At the other end, Lois Maynard was only a foot too high with a venomous strike from the edge of the box.

But those high spots were not a sign of thrills to come, as an often physical battle was waged without end-product.

Chorley sought to be more adventurous after the break but despite greater possession were unable to test Halifax keeper Matty Glennon. The most heart-stopping moment for the visitors was a raking cross from Jacobs which Dean, sliding in, just failed to reach six yards from goal.

Halifax built several promising raids down the flanks in the last quarter of the match but Nizic’s instinctive save low down at his near post from substitute Ross Dyer was the nearest they came.

In the end the draw – and a goalless one – was the right result. Flitcroft was full of praise for his players afterwards. “I couldn’t have asked for anything more from them – they were excellent.

“There was nothing between the teams out there today and once again we showed we can hold our own against a side from a higher level. We can go to Halifax without fear.”