Spennymoor 2 Northwich Victoria 0.

Spennymoor clinched their second promotion in three seasons thanks to a goal in each half in the play off final against Northwich Victoria.

Their matchwinner was veteran striker Gavin Cogdon, who gave the Northwich defence the run around in the first half, and gave Moors a crucial early advantage.

Moors started confidently, and looked solid at the back, without threatening to concede.

They took the lead with their first threatening attack after 9 minutes, when Cogdon picked the ball up on the left hand side and hit a low shot from the corner of the area that beat Mason Springthorpe in his bottom corner.

But Northwich nearly levelled on 11 minutes when Stuart Cook crossed from the right to the far post, where James Ball, from a tight angle, headed against the angle of post and crossbar.

It was nearly 2-0 on 15 minutes when Liam Henderson got down the right and crossed perfectly for Mark Anderson to volley towards goal, but Springthorpe pulled off an excellent one handed save.

Northwich came more into the game and had a chance to level when Richard Bennett set up Iain Howard on the edge of the box, but he scuffed his shot wide, then Bennett headed a left wing cross from Ball over the top.

Moors had a penalty shout on 31 minutes when Chris Mason claimed he was pushed when he went for an Andrew Stephenson corner, but referee David McNamara didn’t want to know.

Spennymoor left back Ian Watson nearly put through his own goal on 40 minutes, when he tried to clear a left wing cross, misjudged it, and directed his heard towards the bottom corner, but Dan Lowson saved well.

Moors bounced back, and after Liam Henderson had a shot blocked, Shane Henry fired straight at Springthorpe from the edge of the area.

Northwich were first to threaten in the second half, when Cook tried to beat Lowson with an effort from the edge of the box with the outside of his right foot, but the keeper saved comfortably.

But Moors were happy to keep the game tight and ensure that they didn’t give anything away at the back.

Moors got the breathing space they needed on 65 minutes when Kallum Griffith’s cross from the left was miscued by a defender straight to Mark Anderson, who sidefooted the ball across Springthorpe into the bottom corner.

Moors were content to defend in depth after that. Lowson comfortably saved a 25 yarder by Cook, then Bennett headed wide.

Bennett missed a great chance on 80 minutes when Lowson’s punch dropped to him twelve yards out, but he volleyed wide.

Sub Nathan Fisher missed two chances to finish it, while Watson headed off the line from Ball at the other end.

Spennymoor: Lowson, Griffiths, Mason, Gott, Tait, Watson, Stephenson, Henry, Henderson (sub Taylor 82), Cogdon (sub Fisher 63), Anderson (sub Risbrough 72) Subs: Johnson, Bell Northwich: Springthorpe, Byrne, Duxberry (sub Amis 72), Cook, Watson, Regan, Summerskill, Lakeland, Bennett, Howard, Ball.

Subs: Clarke Bett, McCoy Attendance 1142