Spennymoor 3 Altrincham 2.

Spennymoor climbed back into the play off spots with a very entertaining 3-2 win over their fellow play-off contenders at the Brewery Field tonight.

Despite the wintry conditions, Moors played some excellent football, with Rob Ramshaw scoring a stunning goal for the pick of the night. But they also had keeper Mattie Gould to thank for a penalty save in the second half.

Moors manager Jason Ainsley made three changes to the team that drew with Brackley last Saturday, with Tyler Forbes, Stephen Brogan and Shane Henry coming for injured pair Carl Magnay and Jamie Chandler, with Chris Mason on the bench.

Moors started at a fast tempo, which was rewarded after 7 minutes when a corner was cleared back to Brogan, and he crossed into the middle for Glen Taylor to help the ball on for James Roberts to beat Altrincham keeper Tony Thompson.

Playing in a blizzard, Moors nearly went 2-0 up when Taylor set up Rob Ramshaw, but the midfielder fired over the bar.

And they had another chance soon after when Roberts got away and fired just wide of the post.

But Altrincham, who had lost only once in their previous 13 games, went close when Josh Hancock created space for himself, and he fired a right foot shot a yard wide.

Hancock made no mistake on 32 minutes. Altrincham were awarded a free kick for a foul by Shane Henry 25 yards out, and he curled the setpiece into the net with Gould helpless.

Moors replied with an effort by Ben McKenna that went just over the top, but just on half time Hancock nearly put his team ahead with a curler that went just over the bar.

Hancock had another chance to score just after the break from close range, but Gould managed to keep his effort out.

Moors took the lead with a top-quality goal on 53 minutes, when Ramshaw picked the ball up about 30 yards, and hit a superb right foot shot into the top corner with the keeper nowhere.

Altrincham tried to hit back, and after Jordan Hulme had a header well saved by Gould, they were awarded a penalty when Moors centre back James Curtis brought down Shaun Densmore.

However, Gould guessed correctly to pull off another good save from Hancock’s spot kick.

Chances continued to flow. Ben McKenna broke away, but was denied by a good save by Thompson, and at the other end Gould saved again, this time from Jake Moult low down to his right.

But Moors’ finishing was more clinical, and they went 3-1 up on 66 minutes when Taylor crossed from the left for Nathan Buddle to head in his first goal for the club.

Buddle nearly got another soon after, but he headed wide from Brogan’s cross.

Alty were furious that they had a Hancock goal disallowed for offside following a long discussion between the referee and his assistant, but they were given a lifeline on 84 minutes when former Hartlepool midfielder Jason Kennedy brought down Elliott Durrell, and the Altrincham sub assumed penalty taking duties and beat Gould for 3-2.

Altrincham threw everyone forward for the closing minutes, but Moors managed to keep them out for a valuable win and joint sixth place in the table with Altrincham.

Gould, Forbes, Brogan Buddle, Curtis, Kennedy, Ramshaw, Henry, Roberts, McKenna, Taylor Subs: Mason, Anderson, Whitehouse, Boyes, Johnson Attendance 869 Meanwhile, Moors have signed Bermudean international keeper Dale Eve, who has been playing for Robin Hood in Bermuda following his release by Kidderminster last year. The 25-year-old has been on the books of Stoke City and forest Green Rovers earlier in his career.