SPENNYMOOR can take a big step closer to sealing a place in the Vanarama National League North play offs if they win at second bottom Ashton United on Saturday.

Moors were rejuvenated by their 3-2 home win over Guiseley on Tuesday night, and they go into the game at Hurst Cross in fourth place in the table, tied on points with Brackley, and eleven points ahead of joint eighth placed Kidderminster and Chester.

But of more importance with the play offs in mind is for Moors to finish in third place, which assures them of a home game in the play off semi finals against the qualifying round winner.

Moors manager Jason Ainsley – the longest serving manager in the league by a mile -- said; “There was a lack of confidence amongst the players through not winning games, but that returned on Tuesday night. Now, we need to build on that win at Ashton this afternoon, and make sure that we come away with three points.

“While we don’t get carried away by winning a few games in a row, equally we don’t get carried away by losing a few games – every team has a blip and hopefully we’ve had ours, and we can concentrate on cementing a place in the play offs. If we had won one game, lost one in that sequence, instead of losing successive games, then maybe there wouldn’t have been an inquest.

“Until Tuesday’s win, we didn’t seem to have the rub of the green – for example, against Kidderminster we had a goal disallowed right at the end, the goal at Stockport and against Hereford, even though we had six players missing, we should have been 3-0 up before they scored.

“If we have our best eleven available, then we’re capable of beating anybody, but as I’ve said many times before, this is a tough league.

“We beat Guiseley the other night, but I’m amazed that they’re in the bottom four of the table, because they have some very good players in their team, and they reached the second round of the FA Cup. It’s a testament to the strength of our league.

“We’re putting things in perspective. We’ve already gained more points than last season, scored more goals and conceded fewer goals than last season, and we’ve beaten better opposition.”

Ainsley might choose an unchanged side today, which will mean that Shane Henry will play at left back, from where he scored twice on Tuesday against Guiseley. Stephen Brogan is still suffering from mumps.

Striker Andrew Johnson has done some light work in training this week and might make the bench, but another striker, Mark Anderson, is still missing.

Ashton, meanwhile, are facing relegation after just one season in the National League. They’re second from bottom, and seven points adrift of fourth bottom Guiseley with five games remaining. Moors won the reverse game 5-0 at the Brewery Field back in October, when five different players got their names on the scoresheet.

In the EvoStik League Premier, South Shields, who are a point behind leaders Farsley with six games remaining, are at Hednesford. Whitby, whose manager Chris Hardy has just signed a new contract, are at home to Marine.

In the EvoStik League East, Marske United are at home to Wisbech, while Morpeth, who are ten points clear of the rest, face Stamford.