Spennymoor Town 1 Stourbridge 0.

Spennymoor completed a remarkable four step rise from the Northern League second division to the Vanarama National League North when they beat Stourbridge in the final of the EvoStik Premier Division play off thanks to a memorable goal by Rob Ramshaw.

It wasn’t quite a goal that reaps millions of Premiership pounds, but it caps a tremendous journey from the lower reaches of the national league system. When the old Spennymoor United folded in disgrace near the end of the 2004-05 season in the UniBond League after failing to fulfil a fixture at Leek Town, none of their fans in their wildest dreams would have expected to win four promotions as Spennymoor Town and be facing Stockport County, Darlington and York City on equal terms in the Vanarama National League North a dozen years later.

Moors were down and out in 2005 but the strong leadership of chairman Brad Groves, the management of Jason Ainsley and the hard work of many others prompted a revival a year later that gathered momentum as the club progressed.

“I can remember eight or nine years ago, that we were struggling to get out of the Northern league second division,” said Ainsley. “Those were tough times, and now, to be facing a club like York City who were in the Football League just two years ago, is amazing. That prospect hasn’t sunk in yet. It really is a massive achievement to come so far, and then be playing in the second tier of English non league football – we’re a small team from a small town and we’re going to play some big teams next season.

“The chairman, Brad Groves, has been superb. He has backed us all the way from those early days, while the backroom staff and the players have achieved great things. I am delighted that we have done for him.

“Yes, the pressure was on at times, and I knew how much winning promotion meant to the chairman.

“It has been a long hard season, which has been quite exhausting at times -- for example, going to places like Skelmersdale and Matlock in midweek and not getting home until 2 in the morning. There were times when I questioned myself and wondered if I’d got the team selection correct.

“But typical Spennymoor, we came on strong at the end of the season, just as we have done in past years. We’ve been involved in cup finals and play offs for so many years now that we’re used to these situations near the end of a season – in fact I can’t remember the last time we didn’t.”

There was a hint of controversy about Ramshaw’s strike, with Stourbridge claiming that he used his hand to control the ball as he broke forward down the left, but Ainsley said; “Some days you get these decisions, others you don’t, but credit to Rob who took it incredibly well on his weaker foot.

“We had a lot of chances in the game, and other than the two they had late in the game, they didn’t create a lot. I thought we thoroughly deserved to win.

“Dan Lowson pulled off two great saves which were a sign of his quality because before that, he had nothing to do. I told him at half time that there would be one to make at some stage but I didn’t expect there to be two.”

Moors started the game confidently, and took the game to the Worcestershire side, who finished one place below them in the table. James Curtis headed just over the bar, while Glen Taylor had a good effort pushed around the post by keeper Matthew Gould and then fired another just wide.

They got the goal their good start deserved – and one that the Moors fans in a season’s best crowd of 1,699 will remember for a long time – on the half hour mark when Ramshaw controlled a through ball from Jamie Chandler and then fired left footed across Gould into the top corner for his sixth goal of the season.

Stourbridge revived briefly at the start of the second half and top scorer Luke Benbow had a couple of efforts that didn’t really trouble Moors keeper Dan Lowson.

Moors kept Stourbridge under pressure with Shane Henry and Joe Tait going just wide, then Gould pulled off a top quality save from Taylor’s looping header.

Ainsley warned Lowson to be on his guard, and those were wise words because at the death, the keeper went full length and tipped away a Benbow free kick, and then blocked a close range shot by Kennedy Digie as Stourbridge piled forward.

But Moors held on, and the referee’s final whistle heralded scenes of celebration that none thought possible just over a decade ago.

Team: Lowson, Griffiths, Curtis, Tait, Mason, Ramshaw, Chandler, Henry, Johnson (sub Anderson 86), Taylor, Armstrong (sub Dowson 62).

Subs: Baldwin, Watson,Fisher.

Attendance 1,699.