Spennymoor manager Jason Ainsley says that his team wants “to make the next step” when they line up against Guernsey for a place at Wembley today.

Competition favourites Moors hold a two goal advantage going into this evening’s game as they battle to reach the FA Carlsberg Vase final for the first time in their history, and ensure at least one team from the Northern League – neighbours Shildon are playing Tunbridge Wells in the other semi -- reaches Wembley for the fifth successive season.

“We’ll play in the same way that we have done all this season,” he said. “Guernsey are a good side, they’ve shown this season that they’ve got goals in them. They remind me of Billingham Synthonia in the way that they play football, and they have three dangerous forwards who are all capable of scoring goals. But don’t forget that we have some dangerous forwards as well, look what Steve Richardson did last week in Guernsey, and until then Gavin Cogdon had scored in every round of the Vase.

“There’s no point in us shutting up shop, because it won’t work – why should we change our style of play when it’s worked so well this season?

“It could be a cagey game, it’s a similar situation to the other semi final, but on the other hand Guernsey might go flat out for goals. For example, they won 6-5 in one of the previous rounds away from home after looking down and out.

“Regardless of what sort of game it might turn out to be, we have to approach it in the right manner. We have to remain calm, just as we were last week. We’ll be having a team meeting at 11 this morning, and that’s when we’ll really start focusing on the game.

“What we have to remember is, that we have worked really hard over the last four years to get into this position, and we want to make the next step.”

Vase fever is gripping the town, and there could be a crowd of at least 2,000 inside the Brewery Field for the club’s first national semi final since the FA Trophy tie against Leatherhead way back in 1978.

“It’s a big day for the town. Apparently last Saturday, all the pubs were packed with fans watching the pictures being streamed back from Guernsey, and there was a real buzz around the place. You can sense the anticipation building through the week for the game, everyone seems to be talking about it.

“The players are very determined to go through, none of them are taking the game for granted. The chairman has been unbelievable in looking after them last week and this, and the preparation has been meticulous. The players will have no excuses. My assistant, Gavin Fell, went to watch Guernsey play at Epsom in midweek, we just want to make sure that the preparation for that side of the game is meticulous as well.”

Ainsley, who will take his players to a local hotel for their pre match build up, was delighted with the way his players handled the atmosphere generated by a 4,000 plus crowd on the island last week, and he feels that experience will help them this evening.

“I don’t think the players will freeze, they certainly didn’t last week. Getting over that sort of hurdle was a bonus last week, and I also think that the players showed in the first half hour of the league game against Darlington how well they can play in front of a big crowd at home.

“We’re hoping for a gate approaching 2,000, especially now that we’re kicking off at 5.30 after all the other Northern League games and the 3pm tv matches have finished. Plus, if Shildon don’t go to extra time, we’re hoping for quite a few fans to make the short journey across.”

Left winger Wayne Phillips is definitely out because of injury and could be replaced by Craig Ruddy, who along with right midfielder Chris Moore – he has played in the Vase final before for Whitley Bay – and Anthony Peacock, have forced themselves into the reckoning.

Admission to the game is £10 for adults and £5 for concessions, with kick off scheduled at 5.30 so then the game can be beamed back to the Channel Islands away from the Premiership. The Moors bar will open from 1pm so fans can watch a replay of the first leg.