Spennymoor Town 2 Chester 0.

Spennymoor striker Glen Taylor celebrated the signing of a new contract with another goal in the 2-0 home win over Chester on Saturday – but keeper Mattie Gould also played a major part.

Taylor’s second half effort, his 22nd in all competitions this season, made sure of the points for Moors, who have now won their last four league and Trophy matches.

The victory – their third this year against a former Football League side on the back of wins against Kidderminster and Darlington-- also maintained Moors’ strong momentum, and puts them in third place in the table, just six points behind Stockport County with two games in hand.

It wasn’t the most vintage of performances, but if Moors are to be successful this season, then it’s results that matter now.

Instead of just Taylor’s goalscoring exploits to thank, they also had keeper Mattie Gould to appreciate for a second half penalty stop that kept Moors in front as Chester were showing signs of getting back into the game.

Moors manager Jason Ainsley said; “It was a really solid performance, better than the one against Darlington a week ago.

“It certainly wasn’t a classic, but we are grinding out results which is the pleasing thing.

“Defensively we were superb and Gouldy saving the penalty was the real turning point as the momentum swung back to us and I thought we thoroughly deserved the three points.”

Coach Paul Midgley added; “The victory was a testament to the lads’ character. Jason said in the dressing room afterwards that we need to win games against the teams around us. If you can grind out a result when you’re not playing at your best, it’s the sign of a team that is going to be there or thereabouts.

“Mattie hadn’t saved a penalty this season until this one, so he was due a save. The rebound fell back to their lad, but fortunately for us, he headed it over. That gave us a platform, a little bit of a lift, to go up the other end, get the second goal and practically kill the game off. We’ve given away too many penalties though this season. We need to stop doing that, and give teams easy chances to score, because we’re not conceding many in open play.

“There’s still a long way to go. We’ve got a good solid run in now, and we have to keep winning games.”

Unusually for him, Taylor put an early right foot shot wide of the target, but he nearly scored with his next chance when he got through on the end of a Ryan Hall pass, but Chester keeper Grant Shenton saved his effort well.

Moors were well on top at this stage, with Chester hardly threatening, and they took the lead on the half hour mark when Hall picked up a through ball, ran on and rounded Shenton.

Moors kept the pressure going, but they were nearly caught just before half time when Simon Grand headed just wide from a corner.

Chester improved after half time, and they were awarded a penalty in a rare attack when former Kidderminster striker George Waring was brought down by Spennymoor defender Rob Atkinson, but Moors keeper Mattie Gould made a great save from the penalty by Gary Roberts.

Three minutes later, there was another let off for Moors when Scott Burton was just off target with a header.

Ainsley then put on new signing Liam Agnew to regain control, and they nearly got a second when Taylor fired just wide of the post.

But the top scorer couldn’t be denied for much longer and he scored his 22nd goal of a prolific season when the Chester defence allowed him to run at them, and he beat the keeper with a right foot shot that took a deflection on its way into the net.

Moors play one of their games in hand on Tuesday night at the Brewery Field against Boston, who had a cracking 5-4 away win at Guiseley on Saturday.

Gould, Williams, Brogan, Chandler, Atkinson, Curtis, Hall (sub Tuton 74), Ramshaw, Taylor (sub Boyes 87), Anderson, Johnson.

Subs not used: Thackray, Elliott, Agnew.

Attendance 863.