Northwich Victoria 0 Morecambe 0 -TWO games and two goalless draws. But Manager Jim Harvey will be delighted that his new look defence - who haemorrhaged goals last season - are looking tight.

They created enough attacking chances to suggest the Shrimps could secure victories away at Hayes on Saturday and at home against Hereford on Tuesday.

In the end though Shrimps had keeper Andy Banks to thank for their point last Tuesday night. He made three superb saves. The first two were inspired tip overs at full stretch from two hard, dipping shots from Northwich midfielder Steve Walters. The third was an excellent save deep into injury time. Northwich substitute looked to have won his team all three points with a low shot but Banks somehow managed to get down in a split second and held on the ball. It capped a consummate performance from a keeper who is in nets only because first choice man Steve McIlhargey is injured.

On the attacking front Phil Eastwood's stock rose even further after impressing on Saturday. He came close after four minutes when he turned and hit a snap shot from close range. A few minutes later Stewart Drummond thought he'd scored with a header but it was incredibly saved by Northwich right back Mark Birch.

After their initial attacking sprees though Morecambe were forced on the back foot and defended stoutly until half time. Then the game sprang into life and Morecambe again created several clear cut chances at the beginning of the half with both Kenny Takano and Drummond going close. Then came man-of-the-match Banks' hour of glory that kept his 100 per cent record intact.

Team: Banks, Fensome, Wright, McKearney, Farrell, Burns Lyons, Drummond, Morton (Hardy 65), Eastwood (Keeling 79), Takano (Rushton 90). Att: 1,030

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