A travelling army of 1,090 Cheltenham supporters packed into Aggborough this afternoon to see their team earn a point from a 0-0 draw against ancient rivals Kidderminster Harriers.
Cheltenham v Kidderminster games have never held the status of proper local derbies although they are the closest thing either club has to one in the Football League.
There was extra spice added by the long tradition of matches between the two clubs dating back to their non-league days and there was a cracking atmosphere within the ground.
Unfortunately the two teams were unable to serve up a game to match the level of support from the terraces as defences remained on top throughout a keenly contested game.
Neither side could be faulted for effort but goal-scoring chances were at a premium with neither goalkeeper forced into particularly energetic action.
Kidderminster made the better start against a Cheltenham team unchanged from the one that beat Lincoln City 2-1 last week.
The Robins struggled to make use of possession in the first 25 minutes and Kidderminster caused them problems with some strong running from deep.
Chris Banks was caught out in only the second minute, getting booked for a foul on Colin Larkin, and Harriers went close to an opening goal when full-back Ian Clarkson blasted just wide of goal when the Cheltenham defence was unable to get the ball clear from a corner.
The Harriers players seemed prepared to shoot from anywhere and both defender Adie Smith and midfielder Dean Bennett tested Steve Book with long range shots before Cheltenham's first chance arrived in the 27th minute.
It fell to Tony Naylor after Julian Alsop had flicked-headed a Jamie Victory throw into his path. Naylor tricked his way into the box but veteran Tranmere Rovers goalkeeper Eric Nixon, signed on loan by Harriers, spread himself to make a good save with his legs.
Harriers midfielders Tony Bird, twice, and Danny Williams both wasted free-kicks from good positions around the penalty area and Cheltenham were forced into a change at half-time when Mark Yates went off with an ankle injury to be replaced by Michael Jackson.
The change prompted a fair amount of re-shuffling in midfield but perhaps this caught Kidderminster unawares as Cheltenham went close to scoring shortly after the re-start.
Naylor combined with Lee Howells to set Lee Williams free inside the area but defender Craig Hinton came across to make an excellent saving tackle.
Chances proved even harder to come by in the second half with Lee Howells firing a long-range shot over the bar and Drewe Broughton heading straight at Steve Book.
Broughton got into a couple of promising positions only to be denied by the offside flag as the Cheltenham defence, skilfully marshalled as ever by the imperious Chris Banks, tightened its grip on the Harriers forwards.
At the other end Alsop won a lot of balls in the air and Naylor toiled manfully but there was often too little quality support from behind them.
Martin Devaney and John Brough were sent on as late replacements for Cheltenham but neither was on the field for sufficient time to alter the pattern of a very tight game.
KIDDERMINSTER HARRIERS: Nixon; Clarkson, Smith, Hinton, Stamps; Bird, Bennett, Williams, Shilton; Larkin, Broughton (Hadley 85). Subs: Murphy, Foster, Ducros, Shail.
CHELTENHAM TOWN: Book; Howarth, M. Duff, Banks, Victory; Williams (Devaney 81), Yates (Jackson 46), Howells, Milton; Alsop, Naylor (Brough 90). Subs: Griffin, Muggleton.
REFEREE: R.D. Furnandiz
ATTENDANCE: 3,554