Gloucester City 1 Spennymoor 2.

Spennymoor striker Glen Taylor reached the century mark in style in their 2-1 win at Gloucester on Saturday.

Taylor has been a prolific scorer since he returned to the club for his second spell four years ago, and once again he showed his goalpoaching qualities, to help Moors to a much-needed victory in his 200th appearance.

Their first away win on their travels since November lifted Moors back into eighth place, just below the play-off spots on goal difference.

“Glen is massive, he’s a big part of what the club’s built over recent years,” said Ainsley. “He’s part of the family, and that shows on the pitch. He’s a leader of the team, he leads the line ever so well and scores goals for us. The system that we play suits him, and with everybody else, he’s a great lad. To score his 100th goal in his 200th appearance will stick in his memory – I don’t think the game will though!

“The main thing was going there and picking up three points because more often than not we’ve been away from home, scored goals and only come away with a point.

“It was an horrendous day, blowing a gale and the pitch was all bobbly. We tried to make their defence turn in the first half, and it worked to an extent. The pitch wasn’t great, but nor was ours last season. Sometimes you have to play to the conditions, and when we got behind their defence, we created some great chances.

“The first half was really scrappy. The ball was out of play and there was no great football. We just had to grind out, and a fitting way to grind it out was Glen’s 100th goal. It’s a brilliant achievement for him.

“We have to do better than the first five minutes of the second half, because we gave them a lift. I was delighted with the reaction after that, “We made hard work of the game in the second half. We could see that they would come back at us, and for five minutes we were all over the shop. In a way, their goal settled us down a little bit and after that we should have killed the game off because we had two or three great chances.”

The blustery wind disrupted the flow of the game early on, with chances few and far between. Gloucester’s Matt McClure had an early shot saved by Moors keeper Matt Gould, while James Roberts fired straight at Gloucester keeper Niall Maher after Taylor had put him in the clear.

But Taylor’s opening goal livened up the game on the half hour mark.

Lewis Butroid hoisted a free kick into the box, and the ball was nodded down for Taylor to control and fire past Maher to reach the three-figure milestone.

Rob Ramshaw was denied a second by a defender on the line after he was set up by James Roberts, but it was Roberts who gave Moors some breathing space just before half time.

Ben McKenna, who had another great game on the left wing, beat a defender and crossed for Roberts, whose first effort was blocked, but he reacted quickly to turn the ball home at the second attempt.

Gloucester improved in the second half and put Moors under some strong pressure. They pulled a goal back on 52 minutes when Brad Jackson was fouled, and Aston Villa loanee Lewis Brunt scored from the free kick.

Moors had chances to make the game safe. Ramshaw was denied by a great tackle as he was breaking through, then Taylor had a shot blocked.

Gloucester’s Taylor Allen should have done better with a chance he had a few yards out, as should Moors’ Nathan Buddle from a Ramshaw set up.

New signing Jason Kennedy came on as sub late in the game, and Moors held on to set them up for the points.

Moors have also signed winger Billy Whitehouse on loan from Welsh Premier League club the New Saints. He was previously with Leeds United and Tadcaster Albion.

Team: Gould, Magnay, Butroid, Chandler, Buddle, Curtis, Roberts, Henry, Taylor, Ramshaw, McKenna (sub Kennedy 78) Subs not used: Mason, Anderson, Boyes, Cogdon In the BetVictor North West League, Marske united dropped to sixth after they lost to a late goal at Mossley.

Manager Carl Jarrett said: ““I can’t fault the attitude and the workrate of the lads. We dominated the game for 60/70 minutes and created enough opportunities to win the game, but then we were hit by a sucker punch.

Dunston’s game at Kendal was postponed.

In the Premier Division, leaders South Shields were held to a 2-2 draw at Stalybridge, but Whitby beat Atherton Collieries 3-1, and Morpeth defeated Radcliffe by the same scoreline.