Spennymoor Town 0 Nuneaton Town 1.

Spennymoor manager Jason Ainsley admitted that he was “very upset” following their first defeat in eleven games on Saturday.

After their magnificent FA Trophy exploits in their previous game against East Thurrock United, Moors let themselves down against Nuneaton and remain seventh in the table, a point behind York City and Kidderminster, but four ahead of eighth placed Chorley. It was their first defeat since they lost 3-2 at Stockport County on December 9th.

Moors just couldn’t get going on a heavy pitch, and their flair players didn’t have a chance to shine as hard-working Nuneaton smothered them after taking a first half lead. That was a shame, as a healthy crowd of 852 turned up at the Brewery Field for the game.

“It was one of the worst games I’ve been involved in,” said Ainsley. “It was one of those stop-start games, and we never really got going, which was disappointing. The pitch was heavy, and our players couldn’t really run with the ball. I felt for the fans, because they didn’t really get entertained – and it’s not often I’ve said that while I’ve been manager of Spennymoor. As a spectacle, the game was awful.

“I thought we were poor and didn’t learn from the previous game this season against Nuneaton, when they gave us a really good game and should have got something out of it. There was plenty of effort, but we didn’t have the ability to create chances which is unlike us.

“I was very upset after the game, but I can’t be too critical of the players. They have done fantastically well this season – they’ve got us into this league position and the quarter finals of the FA Trophy. That was our first defeat since early December.

“We play Bromley this Saturday in the Trophy. Bromley had a scout at the game, and he must have gone away wondering why he’d bothered coming to watch us. He can’t have learned much!

“The pitch was heavy, but it was the same for both sides – we didn’t really test their keeper. We must bounce back now on Tuesday against Telford.”

Nothing much happened in the game until midway through the first half. It all came about from a counter attack by Nuneaton from a Spennymoor corner, after Daniel Nti sprinted away, drew keeper Jordan Porter from his line, and then squared the ball for Ashley Chambers to sidefoot home his 17th league goal of the season.

Nit almost got a second with an effort that Porter saved, while Moors midfielder Shane Henry was just off target from the edge of the box.

In the second half, Henry missed a good chance from close range, but after that Nuneaton were quite content to keep the game tight and not take any risks.

They nearly added a second late in the game, but Nti wasted the chance when he was clean through.

The good thing was from a Moors’ point of view that they didn’t suffer any major injuries, and midfielder Jamie Chandler will be back after suspension for the Telford game on Tuesday night.

Spennymoor : Porter; Griffiths, Tait, Curtis, Mason; Henry, Ramshaw; Johnson (Foley 82), Anderson (Fewster 45), Hall (Lowe 69); Taylor. Subs not used: Lowson, Chantler.

Attendance 852.