Spennymoor manager Jason Ainsley says that their game at Brackley on Saturday will be a yardstick of their progress.

Moors headed to Warwickshire sat in third place in the Vanarama National League North, with six wins and a draw out of their last seven matches and just three points behind second placed Kidderminster.

Brackley will be very tough opponents for Moors. They won the FA Trophy last season, and narrowly missed out on promotion and are currently ninth in the table, four points and six places behind Moors.

Ainsley said: “I thought Brackley were one of the best teams in our league last season.

“They’ve kept the nucleus of their team from last season and have some very good players. They’re ninth at the moment, but I expect them to be to be up in the top three at Christmas.

“They were very strong last season. We went there last season after we’d made a good start to the season by beating Stockport, Bradford and Fc United, and didn’t create a thing as we got beat 2-0.

“They nullified our threats that day and were deserved winners.

“But we’re going there this time on the back of a very good run. We’re going there full of confidence, and we’ve played some good football in our recent league matches.

“We’re certainly not going to shut up shop, why should we change the way we play? I think it will be a good yardstick as to how far we’ve progressed since we were at Brackley in August last year.

“I’m pleased that we’re going there for a Saturday game, it would have been difficult going for a Tuesday night game. We’ll be going there as underdogs but with plenty of relish and looking forward to the game.”

Moors have only one doubt, as winger Kevin Hayes has returned from a month’s loan at Marske with a hamstring injury, while they expect Shaun Tuton to have recovered from illness in time for the game.

In the EvoStik Premier, Whitby are at home to Mickleover Sports.

In the EvoStik League East, Marske United, who are second, are at home to Stocksbridge Park Steels, while Morpeth are at home to Gresley.