Even the most over-expectant and myopic Hitchin fan was satisfied with the outcome of Saturday's game with unbeaten Kingstonian, the Canaries' second goalless draw in a week.

While the draw with Braintree was a frustrating, tetchy affair, this was an entertaining contest which Robbie O'Keefe's side did well to come out of with their current run intact. With four clean sheets in an unbeaten sequence of five games, Hitchin's early season defensive madness seems to have been remedied.

On the evidence of this performance, Kingstonian will probably feature in the top half dozen places at the end of the campaign. In the opening stages at Top Field, their impressive forward, Tim Sills, did his best to try and score, forcing James Robinson into two good saves.

Hitchin responded through Dean Brennan, who was twice denied by giant Kingstonian custodian Lance Key. Brennan also set up Matt Nolan, but the young Canaries forward was unprepared and his tame header went into the side-netting. Carl Drew, still not firing on all cylinders, also went close, turning a sending a low shot just wide of Key's goal.

Kingstonian almost went ahead on the hour, but Phil Wingfield's header from a corner was blocked on the line by Nick Grime. Shortly afterwards, Hitchin substitute Karl Spring headed down for an unmarked Drew, but his volley went wildly over the crossbar.

Kingstonian finished the stronger side and Hitchin were clearly under pressure in the closing stages. Robinson came to the rescue when he dived at the feet of Wingfield and Tim Sills headed over the bar from Liam Collins's cross. Finally, substitute Bashiru Alimi set up Ronnie Green, but his volley was saved by Robinson.

Hitchin: Robinson, Bone, Grime, Burke, Ayres, McElroy, Brennan, L.Evans, Drew(Bridge 83), Nolan(Spring 63), Rydeheard

Kingstonian: Key, Thurgood, M.Jones, Lewington, Flitter(Collins 55), J.Sills, Leacock, Clarke, T.Sills(Alimi 82), Ball(Green 63), Wingfield

Attendance: 451

Referee: R.C. Burton