Spennymoor Town 0 Brackley 3.

Spennymoor’s second “home” game at Harrogate’s Wetherby Road ground saw them beaten 3-0 by Brackley, who strengthened their grip on third place.

Moors, who were without top scorer Glen Taylor, didn’t create enough chances against a well-organised visiting side, who showed why they have also reached the FA Trophy final.

But despite the defeat, Moors are still in sixth place, three points ahead of Chorley, although they don’t have any games in hand on the Cheshire side now.

Moors passed the ball around better than they did on Tuesday in the opening stages without creating any clear cut chances, but it was Brackley who produced a good passing move to take the lead on 17 minutes.

The goal came courtesy of an excellent through ball by James Armson for Lee Ndlovu to knock past Moors keeper Dan Lowson as he came charging out..

Moors tried to get back into the game, but they suffered another setback on 29 minutes when Jamie Chandler brought down Brackley’s Shepard Murombedzi, and Armson beat Lowson from the spot.

Moors then had difficulty breaking down the Brackley defence, which is one of the meanest in the division, although when Andrew Johnson tried to get away, he was fouled by Murombedzi, In the second half, Moors took the game to the third placed side, and nearly got a goal back when Kallum Griffiths played a one-two with Rob Ramshaw, and fired just wide of the post, then Ramshaw almost dribbled through before he was denied in the area.

But Brackley withstood the pressure, and nearly went 3-0 up with a long range shot by Glenn Walker that went a yard wide, and then the same player missed another effort from inside the Moors box.

Moors rallied for the last ten minutes, and Joe Tait nearly pulled a goal back with a powerful 30 yarder that Brackley keeper Danny Lewis touched over the bar.

But it was Brackley who found the back of the net again, this time Shane Byrne steering the ball home in a crowded penalty area.

Lowson, Griffiths, Tait, Mason, Curry, Lowe, Chandler, Ramshaw, Anderson, Johnson, Rutherford (sub Fewster 71).

Subs: Dixon, Porter, Hall, Henry.

Attendance 409.