Spennymoor Town 3 Bradford Park Avenue 0.

Spennymoor are now unbeaten in thirteen league matches after two Mark Anderson goals helped them to victory over bottom club Bradford Park Avenue.

The victory wasn’t as straightforward as it would appear as Bradford caused Moors some tricky problems at times, but at least Moors got their Christmas and New Year programme off to a good start to keep them sixth in the table, just a point behind Chester and two behind Brackley.

Manager Jason Ainsley said; “Bradford were a useful side; they weren’t a bottom of the table side and had players who could have hurt us-- it wasn’t an easy victory for us.

“We controlled a lot of the ball and we kept it well, but it wasn’t until Mark Anderson scored twice later on then we could feel confident about winning the game.

“Considering that we hadn’t played for a while, it was a good win in front of a four-figure crowd.

“It was important to start our Christmas fixtures with a win, and to get the points on the board. The points keep the pressure on the other teams around us, and it sets us up for the game on Boxing day against Darlington.”

Moors centre half Nathan Buddle headed just wide from a corner after 9 minutes, but it was Bradford who nearly took the lead on 20 minutes when Nicky Clee crossed for Tom Clare to have a header well saved by Moors keeper Mattie Gould.

Moors swept up the other end and nearly opened the scoring themselves, when Rob Ramshaw struck a left foot shot that was deflected against the bar, and Glen Taylor headed the rebound wide.

Taylor then had a header blocked, and Bradford responded when Isaac Marriott fired straight at Gould from a good position.

Moors gave themselves some breathing space and took the lead just after the half hour mark, when Ben McKenna set up Ramshaw, who coolly finished under the keeper.

It was nearly 2-0 just before half time when Ryan Hall struck the crossbar, but again in the second half Bradford tried to hit back, and Gould saved from Lewis Knight.

Moors settled their nerves on 66 minutes when Hall made a good run and crossed for Taylor to hit the post, but sub Anderson, who had only been on the field for three minutes, followed up to score.

Bradford kept battling away, and Gould had to make a smart save from Alex Hurst, but it was all over on 85 minutes when Adam Boyes flicked a through ball on for Anderson to neatly fire into the top corner from 25 yards.

However, one negative for Moors was a second yellow card for defender Carl Magnay late in the game, which means that he will probably miss the game with Gateshead on Saturday.

Anderson’s double means that he has now scored five for the season, and he said; “When you get a chance to come on, you’ve got to make an impact, and that’s normally my game when I come on.

“We always said that if we got three points against Bradford, then it would set us up for hopefully a good three or four games. We know that if we turn up on the day, that we can beat anyone. As long as we put the effort in, then we’ve got a chance.”

Team: Gould, Magnay, Brogan, Chandler, Buddle, Curtis, Hall (sub Roberts 87), Earing (sub Anderson 61), Taylor (sub Boyes 76), Ramshaw, McKenna.

Subs not used: Mason Johnson.

Attendance 1097.

In the BetVictor NPL Premier Division, South Shields are joint top after beating Radcliffe Borough 3-0.

Morpeth had a good 4-0 home win over Warrington, while Whitby won 3-2 at Witton Albion.

In the North West Division, Marske won 1-0 at City of Liverpool, while Dunston drew 0-0 with Marine.