Mossley managerial duo Peter Band and Lloyd Morrison watched the Moors at Brighouse Town last week and Band believes their height could prove their undoing if the Tigers approach the game properly.
“From what I saw there are three words to describe Spennymoor – big, strong and organised – and they’ll be dangerous at set-pieces as Hyde aren’t a big side.
“But if Hyde play football on the floor like they can, get down the sides, and don’t dilly-dally when they get into the final third, they can win the game.
“I suppose Spennymoor could always spring a surprise and go a different way but not from what I saw. Admittedly it was a Doodson Cup tie and they didn’t have their strongest team out,” said Band.
Spennymoor’s danger man is top scorer Liam Henderson who found the net 47 times last season. He has previously played for Watford, Hartlepool, Colchester and Rotherham in the Football League as well as Forest Green, Aldershot, York and Gateshead.
Mikey Roberts and Andrew Stephenson have also shown themselves capable of finding the net.
As for Mossley, Band is satisfied with the way the season is going and confident that his side can finish in the top eight. He also has an eye on winning the Manchester Premier Cup where the semi-final draw has given the Lilywhites a home tie with Irlam, the weakest side in the last four in terms of league status. However, Band is expecting anything but an easy ride.
He explained: “We have to remember that Irlam beat a full-strength Hyde team in the quarters. They’ll be doing their damnedest to win and I understand the final will be played at Manchester City’s new complex at Eastlands so that will be a massive incentive for them.
“In the league we’ve got to carry on as we are. Last year we finished on 42 points and this season we’ve already got 29.
“We’ve got Warrington at home on Saturday and I know they had a great FA Cup run but that’s over now. We have only one injury – Tom Dean – and Caldon Henson’s back with us after a month in Australia.”