Spennymoor Town 1 Alfreton Town 1.

Spennymoor’s wobble continued when they were held to a 1-1 draw at home by Alfreton on Saturday – but manager Jason Ainsley is still positive about his team’s promotion chances.

After looking like possible title winners just a month ago, they have now dropped right out of the title race following a run of five games without a win, picking up just two points from a possible fifteen. They are now twelve points behind leaders Chorley with just one game in hand.

Because of Bradford Park Avenue’s draw at Southport, Moors remain in third place on goal difference over the Yorkshire side, but Brackley are now just a point behind with a game in hand.

“We were quite bright in the first half, we had a few chances and hit the bar,” he said.

“I was quite pleased with the performance at that point, and it was a better first half than what we’ve seen lately.

“But we were nowhere near as good in the second half on a bobbly pitch, and we gave a stupid penalty away. Nevertheless, I was pleased with the debuts of the two new lads, Jack Diamond and Lewis Hawkins “Being honest, I thought Alfreton deserved something out of the game. We need to play better than we are at the moment if we are to win the play offs.

“At least though, we have another point on the board, and we’re third in a very strong league. What we have to remember is, that every team has a blip – Chorley and Stockport have had them during the season, and we’re going through ours now.

“We showed signs of playing at our best again in the first half, and if we can produce that again over ninety minutes, then we’ll be fine. We can still have a very good season.”

New signing Diamond from Sunderland looked quite useful early in the game with a couple of good runs and he also put a shot over the bar.

But Moors had a let off when Jordan Sinnott blasted a free kick off the bar, and Richard Peniket, who was following up, seemed a certain scorer, until Mattie Gould just managed to get a hand to the ball and stop it going in.

However, Moors hit back within a minute, with Glen Taylor grabbing his 22nd league goal of the season, when he quickly turned, wrongfooted his marker, and fired past the keeper from the edge of the box.

The goal prompted a good spell of pressure that saw Moors create some chances. And it was nearly 2-0 a few minutes later when another newcomer, Lewis Hawkins from Hartlepool, crossed for Shane Henry to head against the bar.

Diamond again produced a good run when he beat a couple of defenders and set up Jamie Chandler who fired over, and then Hawkins slipped Ryan Hall through, but keeper Sam Ramsbottom stopped him.

Alfreton though had loud shouts for a penalty turned down when Josh Wilde went down in the box, but the referee waved play on.

Alfreton spurned a great chance on 48 minutes when Peniket crossed for Sinnott, who fired over the top from close range, and then Bobby Johnson set up Sinnott, who curled the ball wide of the target.

The alert Gould then had to pull off another good save when sub Declan Bacon got clean through, but he was beaten on 74 minutes.

Hall lost possession, and the ball was played through the middle for Thomas Platt to run into the box where he was taken out by Stephen Brogan, and Sinnott scored the equaliser from the spot.

The game could have gone either way after that, and Moors nearly nicked it when Taylor had a clear sight of goal, but Ramsbottom pulled off a flying save.

Moors have a midweek break now, and this Saturday are at home to Hereford, and a week Tuesday are at home to Guiseley.

Spennymoor: Gould, Hibbs (sub Williams 85), Curtis, Harrison (Thackray 57), Brogan, Chandler, Henry, Hawkins, Hall (Tuton 81), Taylor, Diamond.

Subs not used: Elliott, Boyes.

Attendance 1083.

In the EvoStik League, South Shields are joint second after they beat Hyde United 4-0, but Whitby lost 1-0 at home to Workington.

In the EvoStik League East, Morpeth are within touching distance of the title thanks to a 3-2 away win at Brighouse, while Marske still have play off hopes after winning 1-0 at Gresley.