SPENNYMOOR TOWN are hoping to have learned from experience as they head into the second half of what has been a good season so far.
Moors were inside the play offs at this stage last season, but a hectic schedule in March and April coupled with some sloppy defending at crucial stages in matches, cost them a top seven place.
Manager Jason Ainsley strengthened his defence during the summer – only James Curtis survived – and he also added more firepower by signing striker Adam Boyes from Bradford Park Avenue.
Moors have improved steadily as this season has progressed. They failed to win any of their first five league games, but their 2-0 win at Boston United sparked them into life, and since then they have lost just twice in the league.
They will look back with plenty of regrets at falling at the first hurdle in the FA Cup against Witton Albion, but in the league they are in touching distance of the top of the table: ten points off the top with games in hand.
Moors are also determined to go at least one better in the FA Trophy.
Their momentum in the competition last season was disrupted by a waterlogged Brewery Field – they hope those particular problems have been rectified now – and they ended up playing a quarter final replay at Darlington’s Blackwell Meadows ground, losing 2-1 to Bromley, whom coincidentally they face in the second round next month.
One thing is for definite – Moors certainly are not suffering from second season syndrome in the National League North.
If they continue in this form and avoid the tiring fixture pile up of last season, they will not be far away from winning it.
HIT OF THE YEAR
GLEN TAYLOR
The striker has scored some top quality goals and is currently is the division’s top scorer with in the league, five of them penalties.
FLOP OF THE YEAR
POSTPONEMENTS
The bad weather waterlogged the Brewery Field pitch, prompting several postponements that caused a fixture pile up, arguably costing Moors a play-off place last season, and they have continued into this campaign with two more games lost to the weather.
GOAL OF THE YEAR
GLEN TAYLOR
A superb effort against Blyth Spartans on New Year’s Day.
MOMENT OF THE YEAR
The 7-1 away win at Alfreton in December. Moors’ teamwork at its best, a win that underlined the team’s title credentials.
2018 RECORD
P46 W18 D13 L15 F94 A67
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