The hosts slipped off the top of the table as they were content to hold the visitors at arm's length for most of a warm late summer afternoon.
The well-drilled backlines, protected by hard-working midfield packs, gave up few chances and when the goalkeepers were called into action they did their work with little fuss.
It was visiting keeper Ben Hamer who was harder worked, but his saves were little more than routine, while Scott Shearer at the other end was rarely called upon.
The game started brightly, giving little indication of the less than enthralling afternoon that was to follow.
Brentford's Brett Johnson headed a Mike Williamson header off the line in the early stages and Marvin Williams forced Shearer to smother at his feet at the other end.
Hamer had to spread himself to deny Scott McGleish after a good run and cross by Gavin Grant and Chris Zebroski curled an effort over soon after.
Nathan Elder shot wide for Brentford and Williams forced Shearer into the save of the afternoon with a fierce left-footed drive just before half-time.
Zebroski missed the best chance of the afternoon when the Brentford defence failed to deal with a long ball.
He nipped in behind but, although his flicked finish beat Hamer, it also beat the far post.
McGleish headed into the side-netting, Shearer saved from an Alan Bennett header and Glenn Poole had a shot deflected over as time ticked on.
Brentford finished the stronger and a Ryan Dickson free-kick almost caught Shearer napping, but a goal would have been more than the game deserved.