Mariners urged to keep up momentum of midweek win NATIONAL LEAGUE NORTH

SOUTH Shields have been challenged to build on the momentum gained from their midweek win at Hereford when they visit in-form Scarborough Athletic on Saturday.

The Mariners were in fine form at Edgar Street as Paul Blackett, Jed Abbey and CJ Clarke all found the net to give their side a win that has taken them to within a point of the play-off spots.

Interim manager Elliott Dickman refused to get carried away with the win over the Bulls and urged his players to find more consistency as they prepare for their trip to Scarborough.

He told the club website: “It will be a different challenge. For one, the pitch will be different, two, it’s a different side and one that are doing quite well – but we have just got to really focus on us.

“Everything we’ve done well, we continue to do well and if we show moments like we’ve done tonight on a more consistent basis I’ll be delighted.

“Without getting over the top and carried away, it was a really strong performance from the team and I am just delighted for everybody.”

Dickman could consider handing a first start to on-loan Newcastle United forward Dylan Stephenson and will check on the fitness of goalscorer Clarke after he was taken off in the first half of their midweek win.

Jon Shaw has urged Blyth Spartans not to dwell on their two recent home defeats as they prepare to make the long trip to Hereford.

Shaw’s men suffered a narrow home defeat against Scarborough ten days ago and suffered successive Croft Park reverses when Warrington Town also collected three points from their trip to Northumberland last weekend. Shaw has called for focus from his players as they aim to return to winning ways when they visit Edgar Street on Saturday afternoon.

He told BSAFCTV: “The important thing is to not dwell on it and think because we’ve lost two games in a week it’s the end of the world.

“The previous four or five performances were outstanding, before I took over the last couple of games under Graham were excellent.

“This has just not been us at our very best so we just need to refocus.”

Shaw will be without left-back Michael Liddle after he suffered an injury in last weekend’s defeat.