Hebburn must take correct Cup approach

HEBBURN Town manager Kevin Bolam has urged his players to “take the right approach” to their Durham Challenge Cup quarterfinal at Birtley Town.

The Hornets travel to face the Northern League Division Two side on Wednesday night and return to a venue of one of their most remarkable wins of the Bolam’s time with the club.

A League Cup tie held at the Arrowmark Home Improvements Stadium in October 2019 ended with Hebburn romping to a 13-0 win as Luke Sullivan struck four goals and Louis Storey and Michael Richardson both scored two goals apiece.

Much has changed at both clubs in the last 18 months and Birtley showed that will provide a sterner test by claiming a 2-1 win against Consett in the last round of the competition.

Bolam admitted that he is expecting a tough workout against the Hoops and wants his players to be fully-focused on their attempts to claim a first Durham Challenge Cup win since 1992.

He told The Chronicle: “It’s a cup competition we want to win and if we come through the Birtley Town game we know we have a home tie in the semi-final next week.

“We know we went there last year, and we put in an unbelievably good performance on the night.

“But that was a freak result, absolutely a freak result, and it won’t happen again.

“They’re a very, very good side and we know they will provide us with a significant test, just as they did to Consett.

“I’d take a 1-0 win in the last minute, it’s just about doing all that we can to get through.

“As coaching staff, we have to approach the tie in the right way and prepare as best as possible, otherwise, we will come unstuck.”

The likes of Damen Mullen, Jack Donaghy, Jack Lambert and Olly Martin could all feature for the Hornets after they were named as substitutes in Saturday’s FA Vase fourth round win against Liversedge.

The winners of that tie will hosts with West Auckland Town or Esh Winning in the semi-final and those two sides meet at the Wanted Stadium on Wednesday night.

The other quarter-final tie to take place this week is also scheduled for Wednesday as Jarrow entertain Billingham Synthonia at Perth Green.

The remaining last-eight tie will take place at Easington Colliery next Wednesday night as they face Wearside League club Chester-leStreet United.