PAUL Moore will ask Northwich Victoria’s players to show the same spirit at Romulus tonight as they did during a Boxing Day draw with Witton.

Vics earned a deserved share of the spoils from the new manager’s first game in charge despite only having 12 players to pick from.

The group has been boosted since by the arrival of front man David Short from Mossley.

“The lads can be proud of the standard they have now set themselves,” said Moore, who didn’t have time to fit in a training session after being appointed as successor to Adam Lakeland.

“A draw is something we can build upon, even though it felt like a defeat when they equalised late on.

“We worked incredibly hard, and a special mention should go to our goalkeeper Dylan Forth, who was outstanding with his kicking and handling, as well as the saves he made.”

Romulus were 2-1 victors at Wincham Park in August, although they have lost five of their past seven matches in Division One South.

A 4-2 defeat at home to Market Drayton on Boxing Day leaves them 13th in the table – their lowest position to date this season.

It means Moore, who also included new recruits Jake Doran and Stuart McDonald from the start against Witton, can feel optimistic.

He added: “When I met the players for the first time, it was obvious they’re very much together in what they want to achieve.

“It was backs to the wall in the circumstances, and I felt we had to adopt a more defensive shape after watching the previous game at Stocksbridge.

“We needed to be quick out wide, and to break quickly.

“When we scored I felt we deserved to take the lead, and I was confident that they wouldn’t reply.

“However football can be cruel, and they equalised at the death.”

Kick off tonight is 7.45pm.