Worcester City 0 Stockport County 0

RELEGATION-threatened Worcester City remain in a perilous position in National League North after sharing the spoils with Stockport County.

City will be frustrated not to come away with three points as they put the play-off chasers under plenty of pressure at the Victoria Ground.

But they failed to convert their chances with Ian Ormson making good saves to deny Cieron Keane and Kuda Muskwe in the second half.

With rivals Gainsborough Trinity drawing 0-0 at Brackley Town only goal difference keeps Worcester out of the bottom three with two games left.

There are also concerns for winger Chekaine Steele and striker Jordan Murphy who were forced off with injuries.

Caretaker boss John Snape made four changes to the side who lost 1-0 at Chorley last Friday and went for a more attacking line-up.

Fit-again Junior English joined a three-pronged attack including Murphy and Muskwe while wide players Keane and Steele were recalled to the starting line-up.

Despite saving a penalty against Chorley Ethan Ross was dropped in favour of the experienced Nathan Vaughan.

He was forced into an early save to palm away a low free-kick to the near post by Danny Lloyd who was bundled over on the edge of the area.

Stockport had the lion’s share of possession in the opening 20 minutes but City then produced an impressive spell.

Murphy crossed for Muskwe whose header was saved by Ormson before English missed an even better opportunity moments later.

Murphy and Steele linked up well and found English who cut inside two Stockport defenders before slicing his shot well wide.

The hosts were suddenly struggling to contain City who created two further chances.

After being released by Keane Murphy brought the ball under control but Ormson saved at his feet.

The ball then rolled out to Keane whose follow-up shot hit the side-netting.

Worcester suffered a blow on the half-hour mark when Steele was helped off with a re-occurrence of his hamstring injury as Ebby Nelson-Addy was brought on.

But the hosts continued to force the issue and came agonisingly close two minutes before the break.

Muskwe connected with Sam Oji’s deep cross with an acrobatic volley, sending the ball narrowly over the crossbar.

After the interval substitute Courtney Meppen-Walters fired over a free-kick but City looked the more dangerous.

Keane was seeing plenty of the ball in the second period as he dragged a shot wide, sent in several good crosses and was denied on 58 minutes.

The left midfielder’s powerful strike was tipped over by Ormson.

The keeper came to Stockport’s rescue again on 65 minutes as he turned behind Muskwe’s 20-yard curler.

City were bossing possession but they almost suffered a sucker punch as Scott Duxbury’s thunderous volley cannoned off the crossbar.

The home side were forced into another change as Murphy hobbled off and was replaced by young striker Callum Devlin.

Stockport pushed for a late winner but City hung for a point as Duxbury sent a shot wide and Jimmy Ball headed over from a corner.

Lloyd also missed the target with a free-kick in stoppage time.