The FA Vase semi-finalists came to Larges Lane on Saturday having scored 14 goals in their previous three games.

But they could not add to their tally despite a series of late attacks which ended with Aulsberry ​ ​twice ​pushing the ball over his crossbar​, while another effort rolled across the bar.​ Robins could have snatched victory as they had arguably the best ​ scoring opportunity of the afternoon when Shane Cooper-Clark’s right-wing cross found Khalid Senussi unmarked at the far post, but his shot flew inches past the post with the keeper beaten.

It meant Highworth had gone four games without conceding a goal since being knocked out of the FA Vase by North Shields.

Bracknell manager Keith Penicott-Bowen was forced to make four changes from the side which had beaten Binfield 2-0 the previous week. Among those missing were the two players who had both needed urgent hospital treatment after colliding with each other in an aerial battle which saw Andre Kelly’s teeth make such a considerable impression on Tom Nugent’s skull.

In front of a crowd of 137, who took advantage of a special £1 admission fee, Bracknell’s penultimate game of the season was by no means a classic with both sides guilty of giving the ball away all too frequently.

Highworth, playing a short passing game, worked the ball around with neat precision on occasions, but all too often they were crowded out by Bracknell, whose work rate once again could not be faulted.

The biggest threat to the home goal came at set pieces, with Highworth going close with headers, while efforts on target were comfortably dealt with by Aulsberry.

Bracknell were only inches away from snatching the lead just before half-time when Sam Tighe, recalled to the side, unleashed a shot from 40 yards which ended up on the top of the net, much to keeper Gary Stevens’s relief.

It was Senussi who looked the most likely to break the deadlock for the hosts with leading scorer Cooper-Clark’s only effort at goal going high over the bar.

But as the game wore on, Aulsberry became the busier of the two keepers with TJ Bohane and Dan Drewett posing Highworth’s biggest threats.

Skipper Bohane was among the players who went down rather too easily in the area in a bid to win a penalty, but referee Andrew Hickman ignored every appeal, getting it right on every occasion.

Bracknell complete their Hellenic League fixtures with a hotly-anticipated home derby against Ascot United on Saturday (3pm ko).

They will be looking to secure the double over their neighbours, having eased to a 3-0 success at The Racecourse ground last August with Cooper-Clark completing a hat-trick.

Since then the Robins’ hot-shot has topped the goalscorers list, but he will need to add to his 33 league goals against Ascot as Flackwell’s Gavin James – who grabbed a hat-trick against Cheltenham Saracens on Saturday – is now looking favourite for the ‘Golden Boot’ award, with the Heathens having two more games than Bracknell left to play.

James is now level with Cooper-Clark and with favourable fixtures remaining, could pip the Bracknell striker to the award.