NORTHWICH Victoria shared the spoils with Stamford at the end of a contest of few goal-scoring opportunities at Wincham Park.

Paul Moore’s men end a run of three successive defeats in the Northern Premier League as a result, although they have now not won any of their past 11 Division One South matches.

It leaves them five points adrift of a position of safety.

Debutant front man Damase Kiwanda’s pace troubled the Daniels’ defence in the early stages although it was Dylan Forth, Vics’ goalkeeper, who made the first save of the contest to deny Josh Nodder.

He repeated the trick shortly afterwards, this time diverting John King’s attempt with a boot from Jake Duffy’s cross.

The hosts, playing in front of their own supporters for the first time since December 11, went closest when Andy Fitzgerald’s close-range header was blocked by Jon Challinor.

Forth stretched fully to save Challinor’s header with his fingertips, from another Duffy centre, early in the second period.

Matty Clarke, showing his versatility by filling in at full-back, then made two decisive interventions to prevent Stamford from taking the lead.

First, he tackled Grant Ryan in shooting stride after the front man had latched onto Challinor’s pass.

The midfielder then robbed Regan McGeorge when the substitute was favourite to score.

Yaw Gyimah almost snatched a first victory for Moore with time running out, but his attempt fizzed wide after George Mannion had created the opening.

Vics | Forth (GK), Clarke, Fitzgerald, Lyndon, Mannion, Bennett, Doran, Matthews (Short 67), McDonald, Kiwanda (Shaw 74), Gyimah Subs not used Berrisford, Lawrence Booked Clarke, Mannion, Bennett, Doran

Stamford | Donkin (GK), Hartley, Luto, Draper (McGeorge 65), Challinor, Marshall, Smith (Gary King 74), Duffy, Ryan, Nodder, John King (Meade 60) Subs not used Hussey, Hill Booked Luto, McGeorge, Marshall, Nodder

Attendance 115

Match report by Jamie Dewsbury