South Shields FC skipper Robbie Tinkler ready for different challenge in FC Halifax Town FA Cup tie

Robbie Tinkler has called on South Shields to focus on themselves as they look to overcome a ‘different challenge’ in Saturday’s FA Cup fourth qualifying round tie at FC Halifax Town.

Mike Williamson’s men have already overcome Witton Albion and Buxton to move within 90 minutes of a place in the first round proper - but they will face a sizeable test as they face a Shaymen side that are sitting in the top ten of the National League table following a 4-1 home win against Gateshead last weekend.

The Mariners have been favourites to come out on top in the majority of their league fixtures during the first two months of Williamson’s first season in charge - but they will head to The Shay as underdogs and will have to cause an upset to land a spot in Monday’s draw. Captain Tinkler insisted his side are optimistic ahead of the trip to Yorkshire and challenged his team-mates to ‘show what they can do’ against higher level opposition.

He told The Gazette: “It’s a different challenge with the fact we have been coming up against a lot of low blocks in the first part of the season - and a couple of teams have pressed us high and caused a few problems. We have to find the solutions for that and we do that every day. We have looked at their style. It’s a different challenge and we know it’ll be a good test.

“They’re a good side and they’ve always been difficult to beat. They’ve had a lot of change over the last two years so there is a little bit of the unknown about them. It’ll help that I’m familiar with the ground but I don’t know how many of the lads have played there. It’s one of those we are going into with optimism and we are trying to focus on ourselves and prove what we can do as a team.”

‘Work to do’

Tinkler captained the Mariners to the first round proper of last year’s FA Cup after they had claimed wins against the likes of Guiseley, Chorley and Spalding United in the qualifying rounds. The experienced defender does have a second round appearance to his name when he was part of a Gateshead side managed by current Mariners boss Mike Williamson that earned a replay win against Altrincham to set up an eye-catching home tie with then-League One club Charlton Athletic.

Despite the likes of Macaulay Langstaff, Owen Bailey and current Mariners duo Cedwyn Scott and Adam Campbell producing a strong display, a 2-0 defeat against the Addicks ended any thoughts of a possible third round tie against a Premier League giant.

“The competition itself is brilliant and I’ve been in a few of the latter qualifying rounds and the first and second round - but I’ve never really made the step into what you might call the huge rounds where the Premier League clubs come in. It would be nice to get one of those given my ripe old age but there’s a lot of work to do before we get to even think about that stage obviously.”

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