Blyth Spartans 2 Spennymoor 3

Spennymoor stayed well on course for the National League North play offs with a dramatic last-minute winner to give them victory at Croft Park.

Moors were a goal behind twice in the game, but each time they battled back, and in the dying minutes Chris Mason popped up with the winner to put them up to joint fifth in the table.

Manager Jason Ainsley said; “"I read the players the riot act at half time, not because of the way we had played, but because of the goals that we'd conceded again. We gave goals away against FC United on Saturday, and again in the first half.

"The players responded really well in the second half, and everyone was delighted with the victory.

"It was a good game and a good performance, but we shouldn't need to score three goals to win a game."

Moors started the game at a fast tempo, and nearly took the lead on 13 minutes when Ryan Hall crossed for Glen Taylor to fire against the post, but their good work was undone on 21 minutes when Spartans took the lead.

The home side won a corner on the left, and the ball was crossed in by Jarret Rivers for Nathan Buddle to head firmly past Shane Bland.

Moors replied strongly, and nearly levelled with a shot by Taylor that was blocked on the six-yard line, but at the other end Michael Liddle, on as sub for Greg Rutherford, headed over the bar.

But Moors levelled on 38 minutes. The tricky David Foley, who had caused the Blyth defence all sorts of problems until then, found Taylor, who fired left footed past Blyth keeper Peter Jameson.

However, Moors let a soft goal in at the other end, when a low cross by Jarret Rivers crept all the way through for Kieran Green to beat Bland from a couple of yards out.

Moors missed a great chance to level eight minutes into the second half. Blyth keeper Peter Jameson failed to hold a right wing cross by Kallum Griffiths, and the ball fell for David Foley, who set up Taylor, but unfortunately Jameson recovered to save.

And Jameson pulled off another good save from a well hit Rob Ramshaw effort.

Moors deservedly levelled on 74 minutes, when Mark Anderson, who had replaced Shane Henry just a few minutes earlier, sidefooted the ball home after Chris Chantler had beaten two men in a great run and put the ball on plate for him to beat the keeper.

Moors piled forward for the winner. Taylor and Hall were both denied, but at the other end keeper Bland pulled off a great stop from Liddle.

In a frantic finale, Chris Chantler made a goal-saving tackle in the Moors six yard box, and Jameson made a point blank save from Mattie Dixon.

Moors won the game from the corner that followed, when Dixon swung the ball in for Mason to score at the near post, and spark ecstatic scenes in the Moors dugout and amongst the fans.

Moors: Bland, Griffiths, Mason, Curtis, Chantler, Henry (sub Anderson 70), Chandler, Hall (sub Dixon 88), Ramshaw, Foley (sub Johnson 76) , Taylor.

Subs: Porter,Tait.