FA CUP EXTRA PRELIMINARY

NORTH Shields manager Marc Nash is determined to move on from last season’s Northern League title win.

The Robins are standing on the brink of a historic season as they venture into the Northern Premier League for the first time next weekend. However, their competitive action gets underway with an FA Cup home tie against Northern Counties East League side Knaresborough Town on Saturday afternoon.

Nash is looking forward to a return to competitive action and expressed his desire to build on the achievements made during a highly successful season.

He told Chronicle Live: “The result and performance against Spartans showed we can come through the real tests against higher opposition.

“It gave us all confidence to think we are at it after a successful season and we have to move on from what we achieved last year.”

Nash could hand debuts to a number of summer signings including Morpeth Town duo Stephen Forster and Connor Oliver, Hebburn Town winger Tom Potter and West Allotment Celtic keeper Fin Hodgson.

Fellow Northern Premier League newcomers Consett also get their competitive action underway on Saturday when they visit Northern Counties East League club Goole.

Hebburn Town could hand debuts to summer signings Sean Reid, Liam Henderson and Joe Walton when they head to former Northern League rivals

Sunderland RCA.

The FA Cup weekend gets underway on Friday night when Seaham Red Star look to bounce back from successive defeats in their visit to Northern League Division One rivals Redcar Athletic. Heaton Stannington will look to bounce back from their midweek home reverse against Penrith when they host Pickering Town on Saturday.

That is one of several all-northern League ties with Ashington entertaining Newton Aycliffe, West Allotment Celtic visiting Penrith and Division One newcomers Carlisle City heading to West Auckland Town.

Newcastle Benfield will take on Crook Town at Sam Smith’s Park and Bishop Auckland look to build on a promising start to the season when they head to Guisborough Town. Whitley Bay head to Northern Premier League side Bridlington Town, Thornaby host Kendal Town and Tow Law Town make the trip to Tadcaster Albion.

Whickham will round off a hectic weekend in the competition when they host Frickley Athletic on Sunday afternoon.