Collingwood prepares for war in Red Star’s battle at Barnton
Seaham Red Star manager Mark Collingwood believes his players will have to “go to war” when they travel to Barnton in the FA Vase second round.
Their hosts are currently sat in sixth place in the North West Counties First Division South and head into the tie looking to continue as run that has seen them go beyond the second qualifying round for the first time in the history.
Collingwood has led the club to the third round on two occasions and he could add a third last-64 tie to his record if his side can claim a win in Northwich on Saturday.
The Red Star boss is looking forward to a break from the “rigours” of the Northern League as he looks to secure a third round meeting with North Ferriby.
He told The Echo: “We are a different proposition in the Vase, and we have done well against teams that were fancied to turn us over.”
He added: “The prize is another winnable tie, so it’s a great opportunity that lies ahead of us.
“We need to make sure we turn up on a difficult pitch and we will have to go to war to get through.
“The Vase has been a welcome relief from the rigours of the league because we have massively underachieved in the league.”
There was mixed news on the injury front for Collingwood after Mark Waite and
Nathan Lawrence were ruled out of the tie.
Winger Sean McRoberts is missing as he serves a ban but striker Luke Sullivan is back available.
Ryhope CW joint-manager Gary Pearson admitted that his side are facing an unknown quantity when they take on Abbey Hay.
The North West Counties First Division South side will
travel to the North East after producing a shock win over Hemsworth MW last Saturday.
Little is known of the Manchester-based club and any attempts to gather information in person have been hampered current restrictions in place.
However, Pearson insisted that the visitors will know just as little about his side as Ryhope look to reach the third round for the first time in their history.
“We know nothing at all,” explained Pearson.
“I don’t think it’s been the time to be going and watching them, scouting their games.
“You can always go digging, but to get a good indication of what a side is about, you need to go and watch them two or three times on the trot.
“R ea l i s t i c a l l y, we d o n’ t know much about them, and what they know about us will be very similar.
“We w i l l go o ut t h e re, eleven against eleven and see what happens.”
M e a nwh i l e, H ebb u r n Town manager Kevin Bolam has called on his side to seize the initiative in their FA Vase second round meeting with North Shields.
The Northern League Division One title challengers will go head-to-head at the Green Energy Sports Ground on Saturday in one of the most eagerly anticipated ties of the competition so far.
The Hornets go into the game with something to prove as their visitors are the only side to have inflicted a league defeat on them this season.