ANDY Preece has backed his side to keep a third consecutive clean sheet in Nationwide North tomorrow night when they travel to Lancaster City.

The City player-manager savour-ed his first win in charge at St George's Lane when Leon Kelly's 16th goal of the season proved enough to beat struggling Vauxhall Motors on Saturday.

The result helped ease City's worries at the sharp end of the league table, taking them seven points away from Stalybridge Celtic in the relegation zone and leapfrogging both Moor Green and Barrow in the process. A further triumph at Lancaster's Giant Axe could give City enough daylight to see them safe from the drop.

Preece was delighted to nail down back-to-back clean sheets and he praised his players for shutting out the Motormen.

"You've got to keep clean sheets," said Preece. "We've managed to do that and the lads have responded brilliantly.

"It's a team effort. It's not just the back lads, it's also the front lads working hard to close defenders down so they can't pick a pass. I'm just delighted for the players because for the work-rate they put in, they deserve something.

"The defence has been a lot more solid. We were getting beat by one ball so easily and teams were getting in at will really.

"We did get done once against Vauxhall which could have cost us to be fair. It was just a kick straight down the middle, so it's something we have to keep talking about week in week out and making sure that does not happen.

"From general play, I don't think that teams look like scoring against us. There's been one or two ricochets where we've tried to clear it and it's hit someone and dropped, but apart from that I haven't seen any team really create any chance in the last two games."

Preece added: "I went to see Lancaster against Alfreton and I've got a good line on them. They like to knock the ball about and they will be looking to get a result."