Cirencester Town's players gained a fitting result as they christened their Corinium Stadium with a 0-0 draw against visiting Totten-ham Hotspur.

And while the 90 minutes of pre-season action had its moments, it was the new £2million facility that really left an impression on the 1,500-strong crowd.

The stadium will certainly be the envy of many a Dr Martens rival and if Ciren can retain a quarter of Saturday's attendance when the season begins next month, the Centurians are in for a bright future.

No doubt the bumper crowd was bolstered by a large contingent of the South West division of the White Hart Lane fan club.

Hundreds of young local Spurs fans waited anxiously with their autograph books at the players entrance before kick-off.

Rumour had it that Teddy Sheringham and Darren Anderton would put in an appearance.

Unfortunately, the only household name to step off the team bus was former Swindon great, and current Spurs coach, Colin Calderwood.

In fact, the players sent from North London were only marginally older than the hoard of autograph hunters gathered in the car park.

The fans got their signatures, thoug, in the hope they were collecting the scrawl of a future Ledley King.

While the professional outfit never really imposed themselves on their non-League hosts during the contest, a couple of the young visitors look to have bright futures.

Skipper Paul O'Donoghue looked assured at the back and full-backs Danny Foster and Walter Thomas also promise much, along with tricky forward Franco Parisi.

In a game rife with half-chances, but lacking any real opportunities, it was Parisi who threatened to break the deadlock.

His trickery caused problems and he fired just wide from range on 30 minutes, moments after teeing up midfielder Diego Bortlozzo who was denied by onrushing Ciren keeper Kevin Sawyer.

The game's tempo was unusually high for a mid-July exhibition, and Ciren pushed forward at every opportunity, although a lack of creativity meant moments of opportunism from the front two were as close as they came.

Jimmy Carter wasn't afraid to let fly from range, likewise new strike partner Ben Finch.

But neither could force a worthwhile save from visiting No 1 Sawan Jalal.

In fact the closest Ciren came to a winner was O'Donaghue's wayward back header on the hour which flew over his own keeper before dropping inches wide of the target.

So Calderwood was left frustrated, not least by the Ciren pitch, which proved the only blemish on the day.

Despite the best work of top groundsman Bob Nicholas, the playing surface was covered in parallel tramlines bereft of any grass.

The markings which should disappear in a fortnight were unavoidable as Nicholas is carrying out essential drainage work.

Calderwood though, wasn't happy with the surface. He said: "There were a lot of positives, but unfortunately the pitch wasn't right.

"The facilities are nice and once the pitch becomes good it's going to be an excellent little non-League ground.

"The team look a resolute outfit too, so I'm sure they'll do well."

Meanwhile, Centurians boss Brian Hughes had no complaints after seeing his side halt the big-name visitors.

"I thought we did very well," he said. "We looked solid and we kept a clean sheet. We're just trying to build fitness at the moment. "Today was all about being a showcase for the club and what has been done here off the field."