Spennymoor Town 4 FC United of Manchester 4.

Spennymoor manager Jason Ainsley said that his team pressed the self-destruct button against FC United on Saturday.

Moors looked as if they were on their way to a convincing victory against their visitors, as they led 4-1 early in the second half, but then some poor defending let them back into the game and grab a point.

“We shot ourselves in the foot,” said Ainsley. “We conceded some poor goals, but when you score four times at home, you expect to win. I thought we played ever so well to score four, and our fourth goal was a great goal. We seem to score goals for fun.

“Unfortunately, we are making mistakes that cost goals, and if a goalkeeper makes a mistake, then it’s magnified.

“The result was possibly the story of our season recently. We’ve been scoring goals – some really good ones as well like the fourth goal on Saturday – but we’ve been conceding some sloppy goals as well.

“We were very disappointed to drop points against United, especially as we had done well to get ourselves in a winning position against a team that had beaten Harrogate in their previous away game.”

There’s no doubt about the entertainment value watching Moors this season, with 36 goals scored in their ten home league games, but as Ainsley points out; “It’s great for a neutral at times, but it’s no good for a manager.”

The game started really well for Moors. They went in front on just 4 minutes when Ryan Hall pounced on a poor back pass by United defender Tom Walker, and easily beat United keeper Lloyd Allinson, and they were worthy of their second goal on 22 minutes when Matthew Dixon found Rob Ramshaw in acres of space, and the midfielder chested the ball down and beat Allinson.

But then United pulled a goal back when Jordan Fagbola was allowed to latch on to a long clearance, and head over the stranded Moors keeper Jonathan Bland on 28 minutes.

There were red faces at the other end again on 43 minutes when Hall got away down the right, and his effort, which wasn’t all that powerful, went through Allinson and into the net.

Moors went 4-1 up with a great goal on 52 minutes when a good four man move ended with Glen Taylor firing in off the post, his twelfth league goal of the season.

They had an opportunity for a fifth, before it all went wrong in defence.

Connor McCarthy pulled a goal back with an unmarked header from a left wing cross, and on 71 minutes Bland was at fault when he allowed a harmless shot from Craig Lindfield to go through his legs and into the net.

Moors didn’t have a chance to regroup, and they were pegged back to 4-4 on 75 minutes when McCarthy was left unmarked to force the ball home.

Moors nearly won it though, but James Curtis had an effort well tipped over the bar by Allinson, and Shane Henry headed wide.

Ainsley will take his side up to Croft Park on Boxing Day afternoon to face Blyth, who are two places above them in fourth. “It should be an excellent game between two clubs who are in the play off positions, and were promoted last season. It is a great non-league fixture for this area on Boxing Day, especially with them having a great result at York. Because of the number of games we have to play in the next fortnight, I’ll be utilising our squad.”

Jamie Chandler missed Saturday’s game because of a virus, and is still doubtful.

Team: Bland, Griffiths, Mason, Dixon, Chantler, Curtis, Hall (sub Foley 68), Ramshaw, Taylor, Anderson (sub Henry 75), Johnson (sub Fewster 83).

Subs not used: Porter, Tait.