Honours ended even at Edgeley Park though battling Stockport will be happier with the point than play-off chasing Bolton.

Both teams had opportunities to win this Greater Manchester derby but County's prodigal son Kevin Francis, making only his second appearance since his return from Oxford last Friday, wasted the best opportunity to break the deadlock and give Andy Kilner's side their first victory since Boxing Day.

The 6ft 7in striker squandered a glorious opportunity in the 13th minute, shooting wide after a 60-yard sprint by winger Kevin Cooper that had taken him past four Wanderers challenges.

Fellow striker Ian Lawson could also have put County ahead in the opening half but his right-foot attempt was well saved by Bolton's Finnish keeper Jussi Jaaskelainen.

Bolton, who move up one place to ninth, showed more urgency in the second period. Manager Sam Allardyce had been at pains to point out that the Trotters needed the victory to close in on the play-off zone.

Danish midfielder Claus Jensen hit the crossbar with a trademark free-kick after 69 minutes and veteran Icelandic defender Gudni Bergsson brought a fine save from keeper Carlo Nash.

County, who have picked up only five points out of a possible 39 since Christmas, refused to be second best, and from an Ali Gibb corner Lawson headed goalwards only to be denied by Jaaskelainen.

Nash preserved County's first clean sheet since early January with a last-minute save to deny Bolton's man of the match Michael Johansen.

Teams

Stockport: Nash, Connelly, Nicholson, Flynn, Gannon, Gibb (Woodthorpe 88), Cooper, Dinning, Francis, Lawson, Fradin.

Subs Not Used: Byrne, Gray, Wilbraham, Bergersen.

Booked: Lawson.

Bolton: Jaaskelainen, Bergsson, Whitlow, Fish, Ritchie, Johansen, Jensen, Elliott, Holdsworth (Taylor 65), Gudjohnsen, Johnston.

Subs Not Used: Banks, Hansen, O'Kane, Nolan.

Booked: Gudjohnsen.

Att: 6,412

Ref: R Pearson (Peterlee).