FC United of Manchester 1 Spennymoor Town 3.

Spennymoor finally found their shooting boots when they came back from a goal down to win 3-1 at FC United of Manchester on Saturday.

For over 70 minutes, Moors couldn’t take their chances, but the introduction of their substitutes and a red card for FC United’s Tom Peers turned the game in their favour for their sixth away win of the season.

Moors have now scored 25 goals in their last six matches to keep them firmly in contention for the play offs.

Manager Jason Ainsley said; “We missed chance after chance, and I didn’t think we were going to win the game. The lads missed from just a yard out, which was unbelievable. On another day, Adam Boyes would have had four or five, but it wasn’t to be for him.

“We gifted them a goal, and from the way their keeper was playing, it was looking as if it would be one of those days. We had enough chances to win four games.

“It was ironic though that their keeper, who had played a worldy, suddenly gave away a soft goal for their equaliser.

“I thought our subs helped to change the game – two of them scored – while the dismissal of their lad was a turning point in a way. We got stronger after that and with eleven players we were determined to win the game.

“The lads once again showed some real character to go on and win the three points.”

Moors’ finishing wasn’t its usual clinical self in the first half, and their forwards, uncharacteristically, missed some good chances.

Adam Boyes, in the side for the unavailable Glen Taylor, missed a great chance after 4 minutes when FC United keeper Lloyd Allinson beat away his shot, then on 12 minutes Boyes broke clean through, but again Allinson denied him.

The home side scored against the run of play on 23 minutes when Moors didn’t clear their lines, allowing Mike Potts to nip in and beat Mattie Gould.

Moors picked up the momentum again, and midfielder Shane Henry was off target twice, and then on the third occasion when he got a header on target from a Stephen Brogan cross, Allinson managed to block his header on the line.

Again, Moors were on top on the second half, and they had another chance eleven minutes after the restart when Andrew Johnson crossed for Boyes to somehow miss from just a couple of yards.

The game started to swing in Moors’ favour on 65 minutes when FC United defender Tom Peers launched into a two footed challenge on Johnson and was shown a straight red card, much to the annoyance of the home crowd.

Moors missed another great chance on 73 minutes when Rob Atkinson somehow managed to miss with a header from a yard out.

Moors needed something of a helping hand, and they got it on 76 minutes. Sub Alex Kempster, who had come on for Johnson just three minutes earlier, crossed from the right-hand side. Allinson, who had played a blinder, seemed to have the ball covered, but lost his concentration and dropped the ball over the line.

FC United were reeling, and two minutes later Moors were in front. Another sub, Mark Anderson, beat two men and put the ball into a crowded six-yard box for Atkinson to force home.

Boyes missed a chance to make it 3-1, then Anderson fired just wide, before Anderson made sure of the points when he curled a delightful left foot shot into the top corner from 25 yards.

The win puts Moors into fourth place in the table, ahead of their return game against Blyth on New Year’s Day.

They are now one point behind third placed Stockport County, and seven behind Chorley with games in hand on both clubs.

Moors: Gould, Hibbs, Brogan, Chandler, Atkinson, Curtis, Tuton (sub Hall 61), Henry (sub Anderson 61), Boyes, Ramshaw, Johnson (sub Kempster 73) Meanwhile, there is growing doubt over who Moors will be playing in the second round of the Buildbase FA Trophy on 12th January. Scheduled opponents Bromley are the subject of an FA inquiry over the eligibility of striker JJ Hooper, who played in the win over Sutton United. Hooper started his career at Newcastle and played on loan at Darlington.