MOMENTS before the final whistle was blown to confirm a victory that lifted Spennymoor Town back into the National League North play-off zone, a couple of long-standing fans at Brewery Field started to make their way home from the main stand.

As they edged along the row, passing other regulars and members of the press, one said his farewells to his friends, “see you next time, whenever that will be”. Trips to Blyth Spartans and Southport are, for now, scheduled before the next home game for Moors against Guiseley on March 28.

The chances are that fixtures will no longer take place on that date, with National League chiefs set to meet again today to discuss the situation. The majority of people within football find it staggering that games at that level took place over the weekend when FA and EFL bosses suspended play in the top four divisions of the English game.

It is impossible to predict what is around the corner given the unprecedented events of the last few weeks following the outbreak of the coronavirus across the UK, so the 1,259 supporters who got their football fix at Brewery Field expect a long wait before football returns to the County Durham non-league venue.

Spennymoor will at least resume – whenever this season does restart – as occupants of a play-off spot in National League North courtesy of their comprehensive 4-0 win over Hereford United.

“We can only do what we do when it comes to playing matches,” said Spennymoor boss Jason Ainsley. “Spennymoor Town are our employers, there is so much confusion about, our match was on and we have won. The meeting on Monday, we will be governed by what we are told to do.”

Ainsley, who is also the head of key stage four at Mortimer Community College in South Shields when he is not training and leading Spennymoor, fully appreciates the enormity of what is going on. “It is difficult for everyone, not just in this sport, across the world,” he said. “I am not an expert on that, I go to school every day, people are worried about schools closing down. You just have to get on with your work if you are told to. I come here and it is the people’s choice to come here today and there was around 1,200 here watching us get over the line and win 4-0.

“The players are contracted here, every single player has a contract for this year and some are contracted until next year. They have to be paid. We are one of many who will struggle during this period of time, there are teams worse than us.

“We are lucky to have a chairman (in Brad Groves) and his company who is very driven, looks after the club and the players very well. It is one of those where we had to turn up today, where it leads I don’t know. There is a big meeting Monday and we will take it from there.”

Spennymoor went about their job professionally against Hereford. After PA announcer Steve Colman reminded supporters where the toilets were to wash their hands with the soap, and pointed out a NHS Stand selling sanitisers for a pound – “that probably isn’t going to last” – Ainsley’s men went about their duty in style.

After banning the pre-match handshake, Spennymoor went ahead in less than seven minutes. Former Hartlepool defender Nathan Buddle was brought down in the area, so leading scorer and skipper Glen Taylor struck a perfect penalty low and beyond Brandon Hall’s outstretched diving right hand.

The impressive full-back Tyler Forbes, becoming a regular at finding the net with three in a row, started the move with a ball into the corner for Rob Ramshaw before finishing it by acrobatically volleying James Roberts’ delivery into the centre of the box after 21 minutes.

Seven minutes after half-time it was three when midfielder Mark Anderson moved clear of his marker to nod another Roberts cross inside the bottom right corner.

After that Spennymoor goalkeeper Dale Eve, making his league debut, had a few strong saves to make, but the fourth arrived with two minutes left when Taylor powered a low finish beyond the keeper after Buddle’s long ball sent him through. Spennymoor climbed to sixth.

“It was a bit subdued, surreal before kick-off,” said Ainsley, whose side’s home record is only bettered by Altrincham this season. “We get paid by a football club and we were told the game was on. We had to approach it as normal. The result was more important than the performance – I’m delighted with clean sheet and the four goals.

“I couldn’t have asked for more, especially after getting beat 4-1 last week when the wheels came off and barring a 20-minute spell we didn’t show up. They put an effort in, scored at key time, first goal was important and the ratio from goals to chances created was really good. I’m delighted against a team who had a bit of form of late.

“The first year we went up we were in the play-offs and in the 95th minute we had beaten Southport, and Kidderminster only had to get a result at home against Bradford Park Avenue, but Bradford scored. We got knocked out with the last kick of the game.

“Last year we got to the play-offs, reached the final, got beat on penalties. We need to get in there again. It has been a stop-start season, we have had some good highs but other periods where we didn’t get results.

“To be in the position we are now is testament to the players. The main goal was to get in the play-offs and we are in and around it now.”

When Spennymoor will finish the season, is another matter entirely.

Spennymoor Town: Eve; Forbes, Magnay, Buddle, Brogan; Kennedy (Hindson 89), Henry; Roberts (Cogdon 84), Ramshaw, Anderson (Boyes 84); Taylor. Subs (not used): Mason, Gould.

Hereford: Hall, Hodgkiss, Cullinane-Liburd, Pollock (Finn 56), Pope, Riley, O’Sullivan, Jagger-Cane, John-Lewis, Mooney (Ash 68), Owen-Evans. Subs (not used): Liburd, Thomas, Davies.

Attendance: 1,259