Spennymoor manager Jason Ainsley says that now is the time for the big name players in their Vase chasing squad to fire them towards Wembley.

Moors are the first team in north east non league history to play in both a Trophy semi final and a Vase semi final – albeit 35 years apart -- but they face a tough two-legged obstacle in Guernsey, with the first leg taking place on the island today, and the return leg at the Brewery Field a week today.

“We’ve got some big name players from our level in the north east in our squad, and now it’s time for them to come to the fore,” said Ainsley. “They have their reputations, and to me, it’s no good showing what they’re capable of when the team is 3-0 or 4-0 up in a league game. This is the big occasion when they must deliver. Maybe the minds of one or two have been on this game ever since we won the quarter final, but to be fair to them, it is difficult to focus when you’re going for four trophies like we are.

“Without doubt, it is the biggest game in the club’s history, but we also know that we have a very difficult task. Guernsey are a very good side, and with due respect to Shildon and Tunbridge Wells, maybe this game would be worthy of the final. The game in Guernsey today will probably be watched by around 3,500 people, and who knows how many will turn up at our place if it’s still up for grabs going into the second leg. We must be at our best in the first leg, because the second leg will only be a massive game if the tie is still alive.”

Ainsley is hoping that the big game experience of his players will give them an edge over the Island club, which is only its second year of existence, and is playing in the Combined Counties League, a flight or ferry trip away on the mainland.

“I don’t think many of the lads will be overawed. Some of them have played at Anfield in the FA Sunday Cup final for Hetton Lyons, Leon Ryan, Chris Moore and Micky Rae have played in the Vase final before for other clubs, others have played in big FA Cup ties. But nevertheless, it will still be my job, along with the management team, of making sure that the players don’t freeze.

“We must avoid a repeat of the game in the previous round against Gornal. We started badly in that game, and one or two players mentally didn’t leave the dressing room until the second half, when we were much better. That game was very much a learning curve.”

Moors have the most clean sheets in the Northern League, and Ainsley is demanding another today. “We’ve scored a lot of goals this season, and defensively I think we are stronger than we have ever been.

“But we’ve also got to be aware that we started the season with ten clean sheets, and then went to Trafford in the FA Cup and lost 5-3. Maybe the preparation wasn’t as good as it should have been, because we travelled on the morning of the game, and one or two players weren’t quite right, it certainly looked that way in the first 20 minutes.”

There is talk of an all Northern League final at Wembley against neighbours Shildon, but Ainsley says he hasn’t considered it, even though Moors are odds on favourites.

“People are talking about Wembley, but I haven’t even thought about it. To be honest, I don’t even know when the final is. But, there is no worse to go out of in a national competition than a semi final.”

Ainsley has a big squad with him in Guernsey, the only absentee is full back Dan Groves, who is still recovering from a twisted bowel.