Sheffield & Hallamshire Senior Cup
Aiden Spowage says Handsworth are huge underdogs for the quarter-final tie at NPL Division One East side Worksop Town tonight.
Handsworth are heading back to Sandy Lane for the first time since vacating their former home over 18 months ago.
The Ambers face a massive challenge against a powerful Worksop side and Spowage agrees the odds are stacked against them.
“It will be on astroturf so it may suit it us a little bit but we know how tough it will be,” joint manager Spowage told Non League Yorkshire.
“They have some good players and they’ve signed some good players recently in Liam Hardy and Vaughan Redford.
“We’re going to go up there and make it as difficult as possible (for Worksop).
“I think it would be a big upset (if we won) and on par with (the FA Cup win at) Halesowen if I’m being honest.
“It would be the biggest upset of the round but it is something for us to have a go at.
“It is a free hit for us and if we win it is a bonus but if we don’t it is not the end of the world.”
Spowage also returns to Worksop in a competitive capacity for the first time since a successful stint as the under 19s manager there.
“I”m looking forward to seeing a few familiar faces,” he said.
“I had a year there.
“I went there and we had no players and we built a side and we won the cup and finished second in the league.
“I was there when Dents (Craig Denton) was manager and I made some good mates.”
The cup tie gives Handsworth some respite from the league where the honeymoon period is over for joint managers Spowage and Jason Dodsworth.
After a run of victories, Handsworth have drawn one and lost one of their last two fixtures with Hemsworth Miners Welfare and Goole AFC and Spowage is not sure where it has gone wrong.
“It is up to us to decide,” he said.
“I know we have had a lot of injuries but that’s not an excuse.
“We have played a lot of football and done well in the cups, especially the FA Cup.
“So there is a lot of players who have done a lot of minutes so is fatigue setting in?
“I don’t know whether we’re looking at the table too much?
“We shouldn’t be but are the lads looking and saying ‘its Hemsworth, we should turn up and win today’?
“It doesn’t work like that in this league.
“The most consistent side goes up and we haven’t been (consistent) at the minute.”