South Shields look to seal League Cup semi-final place tonight

Shields battle to victory against Ossett Town on Tuesday.

The Mariners are set to take a mixture of youth and experience to the quarter-final against Workington.

Joint manager Lee Picton is expecting a difficult test against the Evo-Stik Premier Division outfit.

He said: “I went to Workington a few times during my time at Blyth Spartans, and it is always a really tough place to go.

“It will be a different surface to the one we play on at home and they’ve got a good set of fans who are very vocal, so it will be a good atmosphere.

“It will be a good opportunity again for some of our younger lads coming through the academy to rub shoulders with some senior players within our ranks.

“Hopefully that mixture of experience and youth can help us get the right result.”

Shields go into the game on the back of a 5-0 league win over Ossett Town on Tuesday, a result which took them top of the league.

On Saturday, they host Prescot Cables in another important league fixture as they look to strengthen their grip on a promotion place.

Another home match, against Kendal Town, will follow on Monday in a hectic period for Shields.

Meanwhile, Jarrow Roofing boss Richie McLoughlin wants a massive improvement from his players in tomorrow’s big clash at Seaham Red Star, after branding their performance on Tuesday night ‘a disgrace’.

Roofing lost 3-1 at fellow strugglers Ryhope to remain deep in relegation trouble at the bottom of the Northern League Division One table.

McLoughlin said: “It’s a big game with Seaham, and more so with the poor showing on Tuesday night of a few players.

“Last Saturday they did everything that was asked of them, putting in a perfect performance and I think that gave a few players the thinking that we won one game so they can go and do their own thing.

“I thought that was a disgrace for where we are in the table and I feel so sorry for the lads who gave their all to get us out of trouble.

“On Tuesday, some of our players wanted to fight, some wanted to crack on a few times with a referee who was very poor, and the concentration was poor.”

Last night, Jarrow won 3-2 at Esh Winning in Division Two.

Mick Watson’s 35-yard beauty was added to by Kris Goss’s brace, which featured a fine strike from 25-yarder.