IAN Street insists his side’s promotion challenge is not over following Saturday’s draw with Formby.

1874 Northwich are level on points with the Squirrels with two games of the season left, though the Merseyside outfit has a superior goal difference.

Both are in action again later today, Monday.

Lowly Widnes Vikings, beaten twice by Northwich in league and cup already this season, visit Barton Stadium while Formby head north to take on Holker Old Boys.

Street said: “It’s not over – the lads still believe we can finish second.

“Formby’s run-in is more difficult than ours, so we’re certainly not out of the reckoning.

“It’s probably fair to say though that a draw at the weekend favours them, but only just.”

Street told the Guardian he felt the visitors could not have done any more in attempting to beat Formby, unbeaten in the league since October at their Victoria Park home.

He added: “I thought we shaded it, if only slightly.

“There weren’t too many clear-cut chances; they had one early one, whereas we had one or two sights of goal after half time.

“It was always going to be difficult to break them down, but I felt we’d win if we kept a clean sheet.

“We set up to win because we had to go for it.

“That’s why I put [a forward] David Short on for the final 20 minutes or so. We needed to help Mike Brandon, to get somebody close to him to make the most of this flick-ons because he was winning a lot of headers.

“It wasn’t a gamble as such, more a Plan B.”

After beating Widnes 5-0 on home turf in the Division One Challenge Cup in November and winning 3-0 against the same opponents in the league at Christmas, 1874 will be favourites to take maximum points in the teams’ third meeting.

Formby drew 2-2 with Holker when they met in December.

To read a report on Saturday's game, click here: http://bit.ly/1nzACM2