THAT two of the division’s meanest defences were dominant should not have been a surprise.

A draw is more of a prize for 1874 Northwich, who are now out of Ashton Athletic’s reach in third place.

Only Colne, four points adrift, can catch them now.

Matthew Conkie, the hosts’ goalkeeper, has not been beaten in three matches – that’s more than four hours of football.

He was not unemployed, mind, saving most notably from substitute Nathan Martland in the closing stages.

However Ian Street, a former Ashton manager, has reason to feel his side – if any – would have been a more worthy victor on the night.

1874 had won six successive league matches before this one, and they will have believed they were on course for another when Ryan Stewart’s header on 64 minutes – after meeting Adam Bayley’s right-wing cross – hit the underside of the bar.

Still Street, who expressed admiration afterwards for Ashton’s resilience in defence, had reason to be happier after making five changes to the side that started Tuesday’s victory against Congleton.

He stuck with a 3-5-2 formation that has yielded points in every match since March 18, though that meant at least two – Bayley and Chris Lunn – played in an unfamiliar position.

The home team’s most promising attacking moments before the break followed touches by teenager Joe Woolley, most notably when he swapped passes with Lunn before prompting Ashton custodian Jay Foulds to save smartly to his left.

A waltz inside from the right touchline then ended with a drilled centre that deserved to be diverted goal-wards.

Bayley, a willing runner up the right touchline, threw himself at Matthew Woolley’s driven cross only to head narrowly wide.

Neil Chappell, whose goals put the Bears to bed two days earlier, was unlucky to see a speculative attempt from distance flash past an upright.

The second period started with a scare for 1874, but skipper Ian Rowlands – left unmarked – could not direct a header into the net from a free kick.

Stewart, who hasn’t scored since the season’s opening afternoon, could be forgiven for thinking a wait to repeat the trick was about to end when he met Bayley’s centre.

Foulds, beaten, will have concurred until the ball rebounded off the woodwork.

Joe Woolley fired into the side-netting from Chappell’s assist shortly afterwards, then the latter blasted against a back-marker from an acute angle when three teammates were better-placed.

Danny Thomas, excellent in marshalling speedy Ashton front man Isaac Kusaloka, speared a quickly-taken free kick towards substitute Mike Brandon on 81 minutes.

But the front man, after controlling smartly, could not shoot with enough force to worry Foulds.

At the other end replacement Martland served a warning that the visitors posed a threat on the counter attack, only to blaze wildly over after Conkie had smothered his initial attempt.

After that, neither side seemed too upset at a stalemate.

1874 (3-5-2) Conkie (GK), Mitchell, Thomas, Lomas, Bayley, Matthew Woolley, Chappell, Lunn (Ward 70), Stewart, Joe Woolley, Wellstead (Brandon 70) Subs not used Beadle, Connor, Ledwards

Ashton (3-5-2) Foulds (GK), Edwards, Rowlands, Holden (Martland 62), Regan, Casey (Broadhurst 67), Watson (Greene 57), Bailey, Howard, Small, Kusaloka Sub not used Kay

Referee Nicholas Barnard

Attendance 231