South Shields bid to secure spot in League Cup final

The Mariners are at home to Evo-Stik Premier Division outfit Coalville Town at 7.45pm.

They have enjoyed a superb run to the semi-final of the competition, with a mixture of youth and experience having impressed throughout for Shields.

One more positive result tonight would set up a chance for the club to win more silverware.

It’s an opportunity joint manager Fenton is determined they will take.

He said: “Semi-finals are always great occasions, and hopefully it will be a special atmosphere under the lights at Mariners Park.

“If we’re honest, this competition wasn’t one of our main objectives at the start of the season, but we’ve used it to great effect to get our academy prospects experience of playing adult football.

“They’ve done very, very well at times and we’ve got ourselves to this stage.

“I’m sure Coalville will put a strong team out, as we will, and hopefully it will be a good game of football.”

Shields are hoping to welcome back Carl Finnigan, Matty Pattison and Gavin Cogdon for the match.

Admission prices – to be paid at the turnstiles – are £8 for adults, £6 for students and over-65s, and £2 for under-16s.

The Mariners are also at home on Saturday and Tuesday as they take on Colwyn Bay and Glossop North End respectively in league fixtures.

Shields go into tonight’s game on the back of a 3-1 win in the league at Goole on Tuesday, when they came from a goal down.

Fenton added: “Ultimately, winning the three points was the most important thing.

“We were poor in the first half, but the main things were that we got the result and got a reaction in the second half, when it was much, much better.

“Hopefully we can replicate that sort of performance throughout the next few games to stay on track in both competitions.”