Moors remain two points from the final play-off place after earning a point at Southport on a tense afternoon at Haig Avenue.

Rob Ramshaw opened the scoring on the cusp of the interval just moments after Jordan Archer had headed against the bar for the home side.

Connor Woods’ second half header, minutes after his introduction from the bench, meant the spoils were shared leaving both Moors and Southport frustrated.

Anthony Johnson continued to manage the side on the touchline with Bernard Morley unavailable with illness again. 

Southport, who went into the game without a win in 10 games, started the brighter of the two sides and forced a succession of corners early on.

Port’s third clipped the post, nearly catching out Jordan Amissah, but Moors were able to weather the early pressure.

After Southport caused more chaos courtesy of a strong wind, Moors broke quickly and Ethan Pye struck over from close distance via a deflection.

Pye was involved at both ends of the pitch in a lively opening for the full back, collecting a yellow card before heading straight at Cameron Mason at the back post.

Spennymoor became the more dominant side as the half progressed, camping Southport in their own half with a flurry of corners, but an opening goal did not arrive.

The game was crying out for a moment of quality, and, following a slick ball from Ethan Brierley to Ramshaw, the latter delivered a cross to Ryan Hall, but the winger blazed his effort over.

Southport came within inches of taking the lead on the stroke of half time when Archer headed Michael Carberry’s cross against the bar, and they were made to pay immediately as Moors sprinted down the other end to take the lead.

Hall was the creator, teeing up Ramshaw who curled a pinpoint effort into the far post. 

Moors came under little threat in a scrappy opening to the second half, but were thankful to Kenton Richardson’s excellent last ditch tackle which forced a corner.

From that corner Southport found a leveller, with substitute Woods heading in from close range.

The introduction of Woods gave Port a new dynamic, and with the pattern of the contest suddenly switched, Chris Doyle headed marginally wide from a long throw-in.

Moors huffed and puffed but found chances hard to come by, with the need for both sides to find a winner becoming evidently more desperate.

It seemed that moment was to arrive for Moors when Ramshaw nicked the ball and burst down on goal, however, after opting to find a teammate, the chance went begging.

A tense final five minutes summed up the chaotic nature of the race for the play-off’s, but, it was ultimately another chance missed for Moors to move into the play-off zone.