Finding excitement and entertainment in summer friendly football matches can often be an arduous task, but at Blunts Wall Road on Saturday it was nigh on impossible as Billericay Town and St Albans City combined to grind out the grimmest of goalless draws.

Mitigating circumstances can be cited in that it was a very warm day in deepest Essex and that the pitch, although covered in gradually yellowing grass, was uneven and crying out for a sustained period of rainfall.

Joint City manager James Gray had stated that he was looking to field more settled sides in the remaining friendlies but City still got through 18 players against Craig Edwards Isthmian League Premier Division outfit.

City rested several of their more established players and gave a trial to Havant & Waterlooville striker Shamir Mullings.

Mullings, who came on as a substitute in both Conference South matches against St Albans last season, started his career with Southend United but has since had spells with Thurrock, Tilbury Harlow Town, Bromley and Thamesmead.

Unfortunately for Mullings this was not the ideal game in which to make to a good impression and the 21-year-old struggled as much as anyone to display any genuine class.

The Saints also gave a run out for the final 20 minutes to Jordy Ndjeka, the striker played for the City Under-21’s last season and also scored twice in three Reserve team appearances.

Ndjeka was a member of the Woking Academy side that won the Youth Alliance League championship in 2012-13 and has since been a prolific goal scorer for London-based Islington Admiral.

One other face not seen in the City’s colours this summer prior to Saturday was that of Ben Martin. The towering defender has been released by Boreham Wood and is currently seeking to regain full fitness following a recent knee operation.

At present there are no plans for Martin, who played alongside David Longe-King for the first hour and then Kayode Bola for the final 30 minutes, to add to his 212 games for the Saints.

The highly-rated Jack Green, back from holiday, made his first appearance since last season when introduced just prior to the hour, but was clearly lacking match practice.

Billericay got through 20 players in this their fourth pre-season friendly and in each game have kept a clean sheet.

As for St Albans it was their second clean sheet in five outings, but that they have scored in just one of those five games is a run that could, if it were to continue, give Gray and his co-manager Graham Golds food for thought in the coming weeks.

Billericay got into good positions on several occasions but lacked the physical strength to seriously trouble the visitors; that said the Blues did go close on ten minutes when Teddy Nesbitt comfortably beat Joe Welch from a Harry Baker cross only for the ball to strike the crossbar.

From one of their more penetrating moves City, on 24 minutes, at last tested Jack Giddens in the home goal.

Luke Allen, looking less comfortable out on the right than he did in a more central position in midweek, clipped a low cross to Sam Corcoran whose shot deflected high off and looped over Giddens.

The former Tilbury keeper arced and somehow clawed the ball away before it could cross over the goalline.

Giddens followed that with good low block when Rod Young broke clear down the City left, and the winger also fired across the goal in the final minute of the half but otherwise made little impact.

Neither side made changes at the interval but throughout the second half Gray, seated high up in the main stand, could be heard frequently urging his side to up the tempo.

The second 45-minutes were an improvement on the first half but the comparison came from a very low starting point.

There were some pot shots on the home goal but Corcoran, Steve Wales, Jack Green and Michael Richens were all off target.

Michael Malcolm, courtesy of a shot by Wales taking a ricochet, was presented with an opportunity to open the scoring but a miscue let the Blues off the hook.

Good chances were equally scarce in front of the City goal although Welch showed himself to be a useful defender when winning a heading duel with Lewis Manor on the edge of the penalty area.

Manor probably should have won the game from a second half cross by Ola Williams but headed tamely wide of Welch’s goal.

St Albans are back in action on Tuesday, 21st July, when Crystal Palace send their Development Squad, managed by Gary Issott, to Clarence Park. Kick off is at 7.30pm.

Billericay Town: J.Giddens, O.Williams, A.Stephenson, F.Curley, J.Ellul, G.Beavan, H.Baker, T.Caracciolo, J.Guy, L.Hazlewood, T.Nesbitt, subs used; A.Alexander, L.Manor, L.Burla, C.Bourne, S.Stamp, J.Edwards, L.Menga, M.Kharshilladze.

St Albans City: J.Welch, J.Kyriacou (H.Hall 58), L.Chappell, D.Green (J.Green 58), B.Martin, D.Longe-King (K.Bola 58), L.Allen (M.Richens 58), S.Corcoran (S.Wales 58), S.Mullings (M.Malcolm 58), S.Thomas (J.Ndjeka 70), R.Young.

Referee: Rick Bloy (Basildon)