Match Preview by Leon Higgins

Despite Omari Sterling-James’ second half added time goals for Hereford on Saturday, Mark Bradshaw’s side remain on a three game unbeaten streak. October’s impressive record of away wins at Oxford City and Marine combined with home wins against Peterborough Sports and Kings Lynn with a 3-2 defeat at Macclesfield the only red on a super impressive October record for the Nash.

The Nash however will look to start November by achieving three victories in a row at the Tameside Stadium. After the draw at Edgar Street on Saturday, Curzon face away trips this month to Worksop and Darlington. The Nash will welcome Scarborough and the return of Craig Mahon, with his high flying AFC Fylde side to the Tameside Stadium this month.

Going into a full midweek programme of fixtures, Curzon sit in the final play off place in 7th in the table with 23 points after 15 matches. The Nash and Spennymoor are only separated by goal difference with Curzon’s (+6) better than the visitors zero. The Moors however have only played 13 games, two less than Mark Bradshaw’s side.

Spennymoor come into this clash off the back of a 2-0 FA Cup first round proper defeat at the Brewery Field to League Two side AFC Barrow. The Moors were looking to feature in the second round proper for the first time in their 20 year history after merging with Spennymoor United in 2005.

In their five games prior to the Barrow game they had won three and lost two. The last two league games saw them lose 5-0 at home to AFC Fylde before losing 1-0 at Aggborough to Kidderminster Harriers. They did however win at home 6-4 to Merthyr, 1-0 against Billericay Town in the FA Cup and 2-0 against Washington in the Durham County Challenge Cup.

Their impressive September saw both a National League North Player and Manager of the Month nomination. Central defender Dan Jones returned to his native north east in the summer following his exit from Port Vale and he has shone since signing, keeping four clean sheets in September. Manager Graeme Lee oversaw the Moors claim two wins in their three league games with one draw. They were accompanied by FA Cup qualifying wins against West Auckland and Chadderton.

Head to Head:

There has been 14 meetings between the sides with all the clashes coming in the National League North.

Spennymoor have claimed five victories including in April when the sides last met at the Tameside Stadium with the Moors winning 3-0.

The Nash have claimed four victories including in the sides first clash at the Brewery Field in October 2017, where Curzon won 4-2 with a hattrick from Niall Cummins and a Ben Wharton goal. There has been five draws between the sides.

Curzon Ashton:

• Alex Curran’s goal against Hereford now puts him outright as Curzon top goalscorer in the league this season with six goals.
• Only Ricardo Rees, Rio Clegg, Danny Ormerod (8) and Darlington’s Jack Maskell (5) have more away goals than Curran (4)
• Tony Weston scored his third away goal on Saturday. Of his four league goals, only one has come at the Tameside.
• In the last home game against King’s Lynn, captain Jimmy Spencer registered his third assist of the campaign so far, the joint most with Jack Stobbs for the Nash.
• Alongside Spennymoor, Curzon are yet to lose when taking the lead.
• AFC Flyde and Chorley (19), Radcliffe (17) and South Shields (16) are the only sides to score more second half goals than Curzon’s (15)
• Alongside Spennymoor, Curzon are the only other team yet to have a defender score in the league.
• 12 of the Nash’s goals have come from Midfielders which is the most in the league.

Spennymoor Town:

• Dan Rowe (GW1, GW4 and GW11), Glen Taylor (GW2 and GW8), Junior Mondal (GW9 and GW10) have all featured in the National League North teams of the weeks.
• Glen Taylor sits top of the goalscoring charts for the Moors with nine goals. Merthyr’s Ricardo Rees and Bedford’s Tyrone Marsh (11), Radcliffe’s Rio Clegg and Flyde’s Danny Ormerod (10) only better Taylor’s record in the race for the Golden boot.
• Five of Taylor’s goals have been match winning goals which is the most in the league.
• Only South Shields Jasper Sheik (8) has more clean sheets than Spennymoor’s Brad James (6)
• Merthyr (16) are the only team that sit above Spennymoor (20) in the FairPlay table.
• Only Hereford (18), Peterborough Sports (17) and Alfreton (13) have conceded more first half goals than the Moors (12)
• Spennymoor have had the least amount of different goal scores in the league with only 5 players scoring.

Management Preview:

Speaking in his post-match interview following Saturday’s dramatic draw against Hereford, Head Coach Mark Bradshaw gave his thoughts on Tuesday night’s home fixture:

It’s another tough game against a top team, when Spennymoor come to Curzon it’s always a difficult game for us.

They make it very difficult, they are a good attacking side – again it’s a game we look feared to – massive challenge, and. hopefully we’ve learnt something today (Hereford) that will help us on Tuesday , and if we have we’ll be better for it in the long run.