THE Covid-19 pandemic has wreaked havoc on the National League North but Spennymoor Town still offered up plenty of drama in what has been a year of change for the club.

On the cusp of 2021, club legend and long serving manager Jason Ainsley stepped down from his position as manager after guiding them from the depths of Northern League to the cusp of the National League over a 14-year period. A bitter blow or a timely change? Only time would tell and it did. It’s been a club on the rise for a number of years but 2021 saw the club hit a bump in the road.

Following a break in play for months, Tommy Miller was promoted to first-team manager on a permanent basis having served as Ainsley’s deputy since 2016 and the natural successor was earmarked to continue the club’s push for promotion. He was installed permanently in the April so that gave plenty of time to prepare for pre-season.

Moors have largely used a core group of trusted players that have served them so well over the years. The likes of club captain James Curtis, midfield maestro Rob Ramshaw and free scoring Glen Taylor are mainstays in the team and could arguably play at a higher level in the football pyramid. Taylor has attracted interest from football league level but has stayed true to the team. The spine was all there and it was about how Miller and his new look coaching team could usher in a new era at the Brewery Field.

The manager looked to put his own stamp on the team and new signings were hard to come by. The awkward limbo position between full-time and part-time football was proving difficult for Moors to compete with the likes of York City, AFC Fylde and Gateshead.

After 229 days without a competitive game, the time came for Moors and Miller to provide the goods.

Taylor was once again at the heart of it all giving them the lead from the penalty spot before former Hartlepool United striker Danny Elliot equalised in the 85th minute. Up steps Scott McClean to steal the points in the dying embers and Moors were back with a bang.

A few bad results threatened to upset the part but they remained in the play-off places following three straight league wins and they managed to overcome overwhelming favourites AFC Fylde in the second qualifying round of the FA Cup over two games.

However, the step of October saw the wheels come off for the club.

Injuries and suspensions began to play their part with Moors players often losing their heads in games. Moors couldn’t find a settled side and couldn’t get into their stride.

A run of just two wins from 11 games, an FA Cup exit and a high tempered 2-0 defeat to Gloucester City which saw them end the game with nine men spelt the end of Miller’s short reign in permanent charge of the club.

The process of appointing a replacement was a swift process with the Moors hierarchy just taking a week to find the right man in charge. Or rather the right men in charge.

A high profile set of appointments for National League North level, former Salford City and Chester duo Antony Johnson and Bernard Morley are now the men in charge.

At it stands, the club are supplanted in mid-table after a 1-1 draw with rivals Darlington but the season is far from over.

With a new era ushered in at the Brewery Field, Johnson and Morley are confident of narrowing a three point gap to the play-offs and going on a run of form that will see them charge up the league at a rate of knots.

One thing you can’t accuse Moors of is a lack of ambition and their recent appointments show that they are not resting on their laurels by staying in this division.