CONFERENCE: VICS BOSS HAPPY TO HAVE NO POINTS

Ordinarily a manager would be dismayed if his team were bottom of the table with zero points a third of the way through the season, but Northwich Victoria boss Steve Burr is delighted to now have no points on the board.

After being handed a 10-point penalty under Sporting Sanctions rules at the end of September, for going into administration, The Vics found themselves thrust to the bottom of the Nationwide Conference table with an unprecedented negative points total.

A 4-0 win over Burton on Saturday, the team's first victory of the season, wiped off the remaining three minus points to put The Vics back on zero, where they started the season.

With two thirds of the campaign to go, Burr is now looking to put enough positive points on the board to ensure an incredible relegation escape.

Northwich remain bottom of the table and are currently four points behind struggling Forest Green Rovers and further two adrift of Leigh RMI, while Farnborough and Tamworth are further ahead on 13 and 14 points respectively.

Burr said: "Our aim was to get back to nought and then push on - the target now is now to get the 14 or 15 points back on Farnborough and Tamworth. We are looking to claim a spot fourth or fifth off the bottom."

Northwich travel to play Forest Green on Saturday, hoping for a second successive victory that would take them to within a point of their rivals. They then host Vauxhall Motors in the FA Cup Fourth Qualifying round on Saturday October 30th, hoping to make it into the draw for the first round proper.

The Vics have also been boosted by the arrival of former Leigh RMI winger Ian Fitzpatrick, who left the Railwaymen last week and has joined Northwich on a non-contract basis.

The ex-Halifax wide-man played six games Leigh, scoring once, having joined the club following his departure from Shrewsbury.

Fitzpatrick, who began his career at Manchester United came on as a substitute to make made his Vics debut in the 4-0 win over Burton on Saturday.