BOSS NASH IS FUELLED BY PAINFUL VASE EXIT
NORTH Shields manager Marc Nash has challenged his players to become Northern League champions to help get over their FA Vase heartache.
The 2015 Vase winners saw their dreams of a Wembley return come crashing down last weekend as they suffered a narrow defeat at Southern Combination League leaders Littlehampton Town.
With the game goalless, the Robins were reduced to ten men ten minutes into the second-half when Anth Myers saw red for a challenge on home midfielder Tom Biggs.
The decisive moment came inside the final ten minutes when North Shields defender Anth Myers diverted a freekick into his own net from close range to condemn his side to an exit from the competition.
If Nash’s side were feeling sorry for themselves, it did not show as they came from behind to boost their Northern League title hopes with a 2-1 home win against Newcastle Benfield on Wednesday night.
After trailing to a first-half strike from veteran striker Paul Brayson, youngster JJ Chrisp grabbed an equaliser before leftback Chris McDonald struck a stunning injury-time winner to set off wild celebrations at the Daren Persson Stadium.
The win moved North
Shields to within seven points of league leaders Consett ahead of this weekend’s fixtures and the Robins still hold four games in hand on the Steelmen.
Nash is keen for his squad to move on from their Vase exit and push to become Northern League champions for only the second time in their history.
“It’s very tough to take because the further you could the harder the defeat hits you,” Nash told The NLP. “The lads are devastated.
“Our lads have to bounce back because we have a lot to play for and we have let them know that.
“That ones gone, this group of players has the opportunity to go on and be Northern League champions.
“I said to the lads, it’s not often you can balance the two things.
“The Vase is gone, as harsh as that seems to say to them, but this group of players now has a chance to go on and be Northern League winners.
“We haven’t got many Northern League champions in the dressing room to be honest with you, so if they want to make something of this season, this is what they have to do.”
Intriguingly, North Shields host Consett in a league fixture on Wednesday night.