HEROICS from Cheltenham keeper Scott Brown thwarted Crewe's quest for a first win under Dave Artell when tomorrow's FA Cup second round opponents met at Gresty Road back in January 2017.

The current Port Vale No.1 was in sterling form to ensure the Robins held on for a goalless draw despite coming under the cosh for most of the game.

This was Artell's third game after taking the reins on Steve Davis' sacking; the previous two against Luton and Doncaster had ended in defeats and the new boss was trying to arrest a worrying slide towards the bottom two of League Two.

Artell's next game, a painful defeat (0-4) at Exeter, left his side in 21st place, so there was considerable to concern him with.

Such as poor finishing. Ryan Lowe had just departed to Bury to take a player/coach role and Jordan Bowery was getting to grips with a loan move, starting his second game after leaving struggling Leyton Orient.

Crewe created enough to win more than one game, but found Brown standing between them and a first win in 10 games.

The keeper tipped over a George Cooper free kick and went on to twice deny the Alex's young attacker. Sub Alex Kiwomya blasted an effort against the near post .

Afterwards Artell stressed he would be looking to strengthen before the transfer window shut and midfielder Callum Cooke arrived on loan from Middlesbrough to make a significant impact.

Bowery, who had been give the cold shoulder at Orient, who may have regretted handing a potential relegation rival an asset, also played his part.

The Londoners' demotion to the National League was confirmed after a 3-0 loss at Crewe three months later, which secured mathematical safety for the hosts - although wins at Portsmouth, Colchester and Carlisle during the month of March had turned the tide for Artell, who said after this stalemate: "If it was a boxing match it would have been stopped.

"We've not been clinical enough in the areas around the box, but we have to look at the positives and it is a clean sheet and a good point that we can build on."

Crewe finished off in 17th spot, their lowest placing in Artell's four full seasons on charge.

Cheltenham, in 21st, were much closer to trouble and despite inflicting a 4-1 FA Cup replay drubbing the previous November, endured a worrying finale.

Boss Gary Johnson admitted afterwards: "We've got to be glad of the point and Browny has made three or four match-drawing saves."

Former Alex academy graduate Billy Waters scored in both cup ties and was a rising force that season, but a summer move to Northampton never truly worked out and after several loan spells the attacker finds himself reunited with boss Johnson in the National League with Torquay.

Crewe 0, Cheltenham 0. League Two, January 28, 2017.

Cheltenham: Brown; O'Shaughnessy, Onariase, Boyle, Pike; Pell, Rowe, Winchester (Cranston); Waters, Wright (Wootton), De Girolamo (Holman). Subs: Barthram, Storer, Dayton, Kitscha