Droylsden 0 Spennymoor Town 0

Spennymoor manager Jason Ainsley was furious with Chris Mason’s sending off at Droylsden – but they still almost pulled victory.

The skipper was dismissed for a professional foul on the half hour mark, but the harsh nature of the referee’s decision galvanised Moors and they were the better team for the rest of the game.

Mason pulled down Droylsden striker Ben Degnan way out near the touchline, but the referee ruled that he was the last defender and sent him off. “There was no point in arguing with the referee and his assistant,” said Mason. “Their minds were made up once the foul was committed, and as a player you just need to respect the referee’s decision. We should still have gone on to win the game.”

Moors manager Jason Ainsley said; “It was never a sending off, Chris was too far wide. The ref said that he was the last man, but we had somebody in the middle. At the end of the game the Droylsden captain told the referee that he got it wrong.

“I thought we were the better side with ten men for an hour. It was the best we’ve played for a while, but the problem is that we’re not converting our chances. I wasn’t happy with a point; I thought we should have won.”

Moors played really well in the first half, but couldn’t break through. Droylsden keeper Craig Ellison pulled off a double save at close range from Nathan Fisher and Liam Henderson.

If anything, their performance improved in the second half. Fisher wasted their best chance when he got clean through, but fired into the keeper’s hands. Joe Tait and Lewis Hawkins were just over with efforts, while Shane Henry and Michael Roberts were just off target.

Hawkins has played his last game for Moors because he has been recalled by Pools boss Ronnie Moore to Victoria Park.

Spennymoor: Coddington, Griffiths, Mason, Briggs, Tait, Capper, Hawkins, Henry, Henderson (sub Cogdon 71), Fisher (sub Roberts 75), Peacock (sub Groves 35).

Subs not used: Dodds, Stephenson.