But should decisive goal have stood?
MOORS MAKE IT TO BIG TIME
MANAGER Jason Ainsley hailed the last-ditch heroics of keeper Dan Lowson as the right kind of history repeated itself for Spennymoor Town.
The Moors secured a third promotion in four seasons thanks to Rob Ramshaw’s sublime-yet-controversial first-half strike at Brewery Field and might have run riot but for the inspired form of Stourbridge stopper Matt Gould.
Glen Taylor was denied on several occasions before the visitors mustered one last push with Luke Benbow’s bending free-kick and Kennedy Digie’s close-range shot spectacularly pushed around either post by Lowson in added time.
The final outcome left a sour taste in Stour mouths amid claims of handball against Ramshaw, who took down a ball in the left channel before curling a delightful dipping shot into Gould’s top far corner.
Glassboys boss Gary Hackett admitted the better side had won on a day of high tension but felt referee Leigh Doughty had missed an indiscretion despite being well placed.
“I can only be quite diplomatic because I did not see it,” said Ainsley. “I saw the run and the great ball into Rob, which he took really well.
“Some days you get those decisions, others you don’t but credit to Rob who took it incredibly on his weaker foot. It was an unbelievable strike.”
And, having been on the receiving end of a late leveller at Stourbridge earlier in the campaign, Ainsley was relieved his boys saw it through when it mattered the most to play Step 2 football next year.
“When we went to Stourbridge, we were the better side but they bent a free-kick into the top corner to equalise in the 97th minute so when they got one on the edge of the box late on, I had a big feeling of deja vu.
“Dan Lowson pulled off two unbelievable saves which was a sign of his quality because before that, he had nothing to do.
“I told him at half-time there would be one to make at some stage but I didn’t expect there to be two. Their keeper was excellent as well and I thought we were the better side.
“We had a lot of chances and other than those last two, they didn’t create a lot. We thoroughly deserved to win the game.
“It has been one of those seasons. There have been times where we have questioned ourselves but Spennymoor have done what they do best and come good at the right time.
“Second place was a massive advantage. Playing two games on our own patch certainly helped us and some of the players we brought in with that big-game experience came to the fore.”
Defeat means FA Cup heroes Stourbridge will spend next season in Step 3, but boss Hackett knows his side have had a good season.
He said: “You have to give credit to the opposition sometimes. I believe they were slightly better than us on the day.
“It has been an amazing season but now is not the time for deep reflection because there is too much raw emotion. I feel it, I am absolutely gutted but you get over it. You have to.
“You give yourself a couple of days, dust yourself down and perhaps then look back on what has been a very good season.”
Meanwhile, Ainsley is targeting a solid season for the Moors after years of meteoric progress.
“It will be about consolidation,” he added. “We are going to be a small club in a big league and seeing York get relegated shows the calibre of team we will be up against.
“But we’ve earned the right to be in there and I am delighted for the people who have been here for a long time. This is a fitting reward for them.”