SPENNYMOOR manager Jason Ainsley wants his team to bounce back when Curzon Ashton visit the Brewery Field on Saturday.

Moors had a day to forget last Saturday when their four-game winning run in the league was ended in a controversial 4-1 defeat at Brackley, in which some key decisions went against them.

Nevertheless, Moors are still in fourth place in the Vanarama National League North table, a point behind Bradford PA and three behind Kidderminster.

“It’s important that we bounce back from last Saturday, and put that defeat behind us,” he said.

“We did quite well last week against a good side when we had eleven men, it was only when we had James Curtis sent off that the game turned against us.

“Even then, I still think that we would have got a good result if we hadn’t given some poor goals away.

“I want us to return to the form that we had before the game at Brackley.”

Moors are the highest scorers in the league at home this season, having scored 18 goals in their six home games, with their last outing at the Brewery Field seeing them beat Ashton United 5-0.

 “Curzon are a good team – they were exceptional in a recent game against Telford. They’re a good passing team with plenty of pace, and they play an expansive game – if we’re not careful, then they’ll cause us plenty of problems.”

Centre half Curtis serves his one-match suspension today, while winger Ryan Hall will miss the game against his previous club because of injury.

Ainsley was disappointed though with the performance of the second string at Stockton in the Durham Challenge Cup in midweek. “I was hoping that some of the players we selected for that game would have stepped forward, but unfortunately not many of them did. I was hoping that I would have left Stockton with a few pleasant selection dilemmas, but I don’t have as many as I hoped we would.”

Today’s opponents are in tenth place in the table with five wins and three draws from their thirteen games so far, and have conceded only 15 goals so far this season – the fifth best tally in the league.

In the first qualifying round of the Buildbase FA Trophy, Marske United go down to Cleethorpes, who are also in the EvoStik League East. Marske had a good win against Atherton in the previous round.

In the same competition, South Shields are at home to North Ferriby and Whitby face Witton Albion.

In the EvoStik League East, league leaders Morpeth, who are seven points clear, are at home to Belper.