Bank Holiday weekend schedule 'illogical' - says South Shields FC boss Williamson

South Shields FC manager Mike Williamson has questioned the Bank Holiday weekend schedule as his side prepare to travel to Brackley Town before hosting Spalding United in the space of 48 hours.

The Mariners secured a point in last weekend’s home game with Merthyr Town after battling on for the last half-hour with ten men after captain Robbie Tinkler was shown a second yellow card for pulling back a visitors forward - and that has further limited Williamson’s options ahead of a busy period.

After a busy week on the training pitch, Williamson and his players are now prepared for Saturday’s visit to Brackley as they face a tough-looking test against a Saints side that competed in the National League last season. That forms the first part of a challenging double-header over the weekend with former FA Cup opponents Spalding visit Mariners Park on Bank Holiday Monday.

Williamson described his side and their step two rivals facing two games in quick succession as ‘illogical’ but insisted they will head into both games in a positive frame of mind.

He told The Gazette: “It’s Saturday and then Monday and I don’t understand that. We have a long old journey down there and back and that’s this league, it’s relentless, it’s tough and we are a little short on bodies. We will look for solutions.

“I don’t really understand why there are two games in 48 hours for the National League North clubs when the National League play on Friday night. It’s illogical to me but we will deal with it and we will look to be positive to try and get the results we want across the weekend because we know we are facing two very tough games against good sides.”

Williamson will be without the services of defender and captain Robbie Tinkler as he serves a suspension for the red card he received in last weekend’s draw with Merthyr - but he will return to contention for Monday’s home game with Spalding. Fellow defender Dillon Morse could come in for Tinkler but the long-serving centre-back will be assessed ahead of the trip to Brackley before a final decision is made over his involvement at St James Park.

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