TIVIDALE'S players showed they still possess fighting spirit in abundance when battling to an away point at Rugby Town last Saturday.

A strike from Mark Danks early in the second half ensured Tivi returned with a point from their first game in three weeks.

Dale had to dig deep at times after defender Lewis Wright was given his marching orders on 36 minutes when the referee adjudged that his foul had denied a goalscoring opportunity.

Club secretary Leon Murray was full of praise for Dale's defensive fight.

He said: "We showed real battling qualities throughout. Though we hung on at times and rode our luck a little I think we deserved a point just for the effort alone.

"We deserved to take something from the game. It was really impressive the way the team knuckled down.

"They showed the character we have in this squad. We are bottom of the league still and haven't played for a while, so it would be easy to fold when we were behind with ten men.

"Hopefully we can build on that result."

Murray singled out goalkeeper Tom Turner for his string of fine saves.

"Tom is our new skipper since the turn of the year and he gave a real captain's performance. It was an inspired showing and he made sure we came out with a point."

Meanwhile, Tivi boss Phil Male has moved to strengthen his squad.

Defender Sam Brookes has come in from Sutton Coldfield to add to Bradley Smith's arrival from Lye the week before.

Midfielder Yanik Gomez also arrives from Coleshill Town.

Dale are set to face Gresley away on Tuesday night before hosting Spalding United this Saturday (3pm).