Spennymoor 3 Padiham 1.

Spennymoor climbed into third in the EvoStik First Division North with victory over bottom club Padiham – and manager Jason Ainsley hasn’t ruled out their title chances just yet.

Moors weren’t at their best in this game, and didn’t have the game entirely their own way. They missed some good chances in the first half at 1-0, and encouraged by Moors’ wastefulness, Padiham caused some anxious moments until Moors scored their second.

But nevertheless, with Northwich idle and Bamber Bridge losing at Droylsden, Moors climbed from fifth to third, and if they win at New Mills tonight, will go level on points with Darlington having played a game more. They are currently nine points behind leaders Salford, whom they play on Saturday in Manchester.

“We had enough chances to score more than three, but at this stage of the season, points matter more than performances,” said Ainsley.

“It was never going to be a pretty game, because of the windy conditions. I’d rather have been more comfortable by half time with the chances that we had, but the lads did their jobs, and now they have taken nine points from the last three games. They have had tough games recently against Warrington and Clitheroe.

“It was an important win for us, because I still believe that we have a chance of winning the title. We must have a positive outlook, after all, if we don’t believe we can win the league, then what’s the point of entering it? If we can win at New Mills tonight, and against Salford on Saturday, then who knows? We have to win every game, and see what happens.”

Andrew Stephenson, who has scored three times in his last two outings, nearly opened the scoring on 5 minutes when he cut in from the right, beating a defender on the way, but Padiham keeper Sean Davis blocked his shot with the help of the post.

And Stephenson had another chance, this time on the left hand side, when Anthony Peacock played the ball to him on the corner of the box, and his right foot shot grazed the bar.

But there was to be no stopping him on 9 minutes, when the Padiham defence failed to clear a left wing cross, and Nathan Fisher put the ball into the six yard box for him to tap in from a few yards.

Moors nearly got another, but Paul Johnson’s header from a free kick looped just over the bar, and then Liam Henderson charged down a Davis clearance, but the keeper grabbed the ball before the striker could run through on goal..

But Padiham nearly levelled when former Southampton striker Brett Ormerod turned on a left wing cross, and volleyed just over the bar.

Moors should have got a second on 19 minutes when a harmless ball into the box from Stephenson was left by every ball-watching Padiham defender, allowing Shane Henry to fire over the top from twelve yards, when he should have done better.

Padiham plugged the gaps at the back until the 29th minute, when Henry found plenty of space from another Peacock lay off, but his right foot shot from the edge of the box lacked power, and Davis saved comfortably.

Moors keeper Adam McHugh preserved Moors’ lead on 35 minutes, when Daley Woods couldn’t quite connect on to a left wing cross, but Ormerod was lurking behind him, and McHugh blocked at his feet.

Sub Gavin Cogdon, on for the injured Anthony Peacock, made a great run up the left at the start of the second half and had a shot charged down, but Robert Briggs, following up, couldn’t keep his effort down and it went harmlessly wide.

Padiham grew in confidence while Moors contrived to keep them in the game, and they nearly levelled on 58 minutes when sub Curtis Haley, on for Ormerod, broke away, but Moors keeper Adam McHugh saved at his feet.

Moors calmed their nerves on 64 minutes when Briggs found Fisher on the edge of the box, and the striker fired over the helpless Davis.

And it was game over on 66 minutes when Padiham defender Thomas Murphy neatly headed a right wing cross into the bottom corner of his own net.

It was nearly 4-0 when Davis went full length to deny Paul Johnson, who also had a header cleared off the line.

Padiham pulled a goal back when Daniel Williams broke through two tackles, and after his shot was blocked, Haley neatly sidefooted into the bottom corner.

Moors nearly got another in the last minute after Fisher sent sub Michael Roberts racing clear, but Davis stopped his shot low down.

Spennymoor: McHugh, Griffiths, Johnson, Briggs, Tait, Capper, Stephenson (sub Roberts 70), Henry, Henderson (sub Ward 70), Fisher, Peacock. (sub Cogdon 39).

Subs not used: Mason, Dodds.

Padiham: Davis, Murphy (sub Scott 70), Grice, Young, Fowler, Hill, Williams, Sharples. Woods, Ormerod (sub Haley 45), O’Brien.

Subs not used: Langford, Emmott, Dawson.