Dale Eve is adamant nothing less than promotion to the Vanarama National League would constitute as success for Spennymoor Town this season.

After a somewhat mixed start to the new National League North campaign, Town have found some form, securing three successive victories to propel themselves towards the top of the table, sitting fourth on 15 points, four adrift of leaders Fylde in the solitary automatic promotion spot.

Having had their previous two promotion challenges hindered; missing out on the play-offs by a projected points calculation after the suspension of remaining league fixtures, while last season was declared null and void at the midway point, Eve declared the club are more determined than ever to fulfil their ambition.

“Promotion is not just the aim of the club it’s pretty much the expectation now, no one is aiming for anything less than that,” said the Bermuda goalkeeper.

“We are on a bit of a good run. I feel we like we should have won all of our games so far. We had two disappointing defeats early on but we’ve had a really strong reply since which is a good to see.

“As a squad we are making up for lost time a bit. Last season we were right in and among the play-off picture before the pandemic pretty much forced the season to stop.

“We have got ourselves back to where we were again and promotion could definitely be on the cards for this cub.

“You can definitely sense that among the squad and there is a real positive vibe at the club that everyone is pushing for what we want to achieve.”

While fully aware of the task at hand among a highly competitive division, the 26-year-old is adamant the club already has everything in place to make the step up to the level above and even perhaps beyond.

“The club is definitely set up to be at least at National League level,” Eve added. “The chairman [Bradley Groves] has made no secret that he is desperate for promotion and he has been putting things in place to set the club up for that.

“We know this is a very strong league but everything here is in place for us to go up at least one level.

“As well as the club set up itself, the playing squad is really strong and I have no doubt we could compete at a level higher.”

After biding his time initially on joining the County Durham-based outfit, Eve has cemented his place as the club's first-choice goalkeeper. A host of impressive displays already this season has drawn plaudits from pundits and the Spennymoor fans, who the goalkeeper is delighted to see back in the stadiums after the pandemic restricted their attendance.

“On a personal level I’ve been pleased with my own performances and to get some great feedback from fans,” he added. “However, I can’t take all the credit because the backline in front of me has been great overall so far this season.

“Having the fans back at the stadium definitely gives everyone, including myself, a massive boost. It’s been strange during the pandemic without them but their return just makes it feel like football it is getting back to normal again.

“Looking ahead for the rest of the season, it’s exciting for me to be at a club that is set up for promotion and striving for that. As a squad and entire club we all have one goal, and that’s to finally gain promotion.”

Eve and Spennymoor will be turning their attentions away from the league this weekend as they host Southport in an Emirates FA Cup third round qualifying encounter.