ANDY Preece said his side was not ruthless enough to beat Stafford Rangers.

The Northwich Victoria manager guided the visitors to a tenth successive match without defeat in league and cup, but was still unhappy afterwards.

“We gave the game away,” he said.

“When you are 2-0 ahead you should go on to win the game and we didn’t.”

Vics, in their last outing before next week’s crunch FA Cup clash with Charlton Athletic, stormed into a two-goals lead when Jon Newby and then Mark Danks finished smartly.

But the hosts, who had won only once in front of their own fans this season, rallied when Tom Thorley rifled in a shot from the edge of the box before Ben Mills steered in Levi Reid’s cross after the wide man had ambushed Mat Bailey.

All the goals were scored inside the first half hour.

“Their first goal was avoidable,” said Preece.

“We watched them do exactly the same to score [at Ilkeston] in midweek, so we knew it was a move we had to counter. We didn’t stay with the midfield runner and go punished.

“Mat Bailey will be the first to hold his hands up about the second goal. He has to deal with the situation by not taking any risks.”

Vics created, and wasted, chances to retake the lead.

They also finished the encounter strongly despite playing almost all of the second half with 10 men following Danks’ dismissal for elbowing Ashley Wooliscroft.

“We need to kill opponents off,” added Preece.

“It was the same story at Ilkeston last time we played away from home [Vics drew 1-1]. Failing to do that is hurting us because it’s cost us points, so we’re having to catch-up even more than we did already.

“It’s a lesson these players have to learn and learn quickly. A third of the season has gone now and we can’t keep giving points away.

“We’re not ruthless and that has to change.”

“On the face of it people will say we’ve done well to pick up a point with 10-men,” he added.

“That’s not the case at all, we should have won.

“We’ve set such high standards that I’m moaning after we’ve gone 10 matches without getting beat. But I think it should have been 10 wins in a row.”

He was diplomatic on Danks’ dismissal.

The front runner, already banned for next week’s encounter with the Addicks after picking up his fifth booking of the season, now faces a further three-matches ban.

“Danksy pulled his arm back and caught their guy in the face,” he said.

“It’s something you can’t do. It’s a risk and the referee felt it was deliberate so we have to respect his decision.”

Preece said the most positive aspect of Vics’ performance was their stirring finish.

Wayne Riley’s swerving free kick came back off the post, while Mike Aspin’s dipping drive almost sneaked under the crossbar.

“I take some comfort by how we finished the game,” he said.

“We looked the only team likely to score the next goal and I don’t think our keeper has had a save to make in the whole of the second half.

“But if we’d worked that hard with 11-men then perhaps we would have been out of sight.”

The draw leaves Vics in 15th position in Blue Square North, three points above the drop zone. Stafford are a single point better off.