SPENNYMOOR TOWN aim to move within 90 minutes of promotion to the National League North tonight and have called for North-East football fans to help.

The County Durham club’s Evo-Stik Northern Premier League Premier Division’s play-off semi-final with Nantwich Town is sandwiched between two bigger nights higher up the football ladder.

Newcastle United’s drive for an automatic promotion spot took place at St James’ Park last night and Sunderland travel to Middlesbrough in a Premier league relegation tussle tomorrow.

But tonight is what matters to everyone connected with Brewery Field, where manager Jason Ainsley hopes to have his team backed by record numbers in the bid to claim back-to-back promotions.

Ainsley said: “Tuesday is a huge game and one we are really looking forward to with our home advantage. But we must make it count and have the Brewery Field rocking.

“We have had some massive games here over the years and the fans have always come out in force and been the 12th man. Tuesday night will hopefully be no different.

“We have had a great season after finishing runners-up in the league and reaching the FA Cup first round proper. But we don't want to it end here because our ambition is to be in the National League North. We’ll need a big support - it can make a huge difference.”

Spennymoor have averaged a crowd of around the 550 mark this season and the biggest turn out (946) was when league champions Blyth paid a visit. There was also more than 700 fans who watched the victory over Chorley in the third FA Cup qualifying round, before they overcame Lincoln United to tee up a memorable day out at MK Dons.

Ainsley would love to see supporters turn up in force in the hope his side continues its good form going into the play-offs, while also knowing Nantwich have hit a bit of a dip.

Nantwich dropped down to fifth – meaning a one-off away date in the play-off semi-final – after collecting one point from the last nine; including defeats to Stourbridge and Workington who face each other in the other tie.

Spennymoor on the other hand head into the visit of Nantwich having climbed up to second with ten points from the last 12 available to them to close the campaign.

Nantwich want to reproduce the sort of performance that earned a point at Brewery Field earlier this month. The Dabbers’ manager Phil Parkinson – not the one brought up on Teesside and managing Bradford – labelled the display “outstanding” that afternoon.

Nantwich had to dig deep to withstand some heavy pressure in the second half to avoid a defeat, having fought back to level when Curtis Jones cancelled out Shane Henry’s first half opener.

The winners of tonight’s game at Brewery Field will take on either Stourbridge or Workington on Saturday – and Spennymoor would be at home again if they progressed.

The County Durham side secured home advantage by rounding off their season with a 2-0 win over Barwell on Saturday.

Ainsley is in his tenth season at the helm, having overseen three successive play-offs in the Northern Premier League. Moors were successful last season, securing promotion, and would love to repeat that achievement to join Darlington at the higher level.

Tonight’s game will kick off at 7.45pm. Admission costs the same as regular season games: £10 for adults, £6 for concessions and £3 for children. Spennymoor season tickets will not be valid for the game.