ANDY Preece admitted that Northwich were happy after sharing the spoils with fellow pacesetters Chorley.

The draw leaves both teams tied on points at the Evo-Stik NPL Premier Division summit and the visitors’ unbeaten record so far this season intact.

“I expected it to be close,” said the Vics boss afterwards.

“But I’ve learned that we are contenders [for promotion] after seeing us match Chorley and that’s good to know.

“They probably felt a draw is not too bad a result at this stage too.”

Northwich failed to score for the first time this season as the home team kept their sheet clean for a fifth time in their eight league encounters.

There was an acceptance from Preece that the visitors had missed an opportunity to change that statistic.

“We were the better team in a tight first half when we created the best opportunities,” he said.

“I felt the final pass in the last third of the pitch let us down though and we didn’t capitalise on chances to make their goalkeeper stop a shot.

“I was surprised how comfortable we were before half time when you consider we were playing away to the league leaders; we were in no trouble.”

Wayne Riley’s miss when face-to-face with Chorley goalkeeper Russ Saunders left the Northwich manager wondering what might have been at the break.

But the Magpies made chances of their own in the second half.

Preece added: “All it needed was the finish but Wayne is going through one of those periods in front of goal; he’s getting into good positions with great energy and just needs to score a goal.

“It’s a matter of time though, I’m sure of it.

“We were under a bit of pressure in the second half when they had their best spell.

“But that’s when I saw that the players had a hunger and desire not to lose when they were asked questions by Chorley in the last five minutes or so.

“That was great to see.”

Northwich, who travel to Stocksbridge Park Steels on Saturday, are now unbeaten in ten Evo-Stik Northern Premier League matches dating back to April.

It’s a fact not lost on Preece.

He said: “The longer that continues then the better our position in the table will be.”