Draw on big game experience in Buxton play-off clash - says South Shields skipper Robbie Tinkler

Robbie Tinkler has urged his South Shields team-mates to fall back upon their previous big-game experience as they prepare for Saturday’s National League North play-off semi-final showdown with Buxton.

There has been little to choose between the two sides during the regular season as an early-season 2-2 draw at the 1st Cloud Arena was followed by another draw in Derbyshire in January. With play-off nerves and a strong crowd thrown into the mix, Saturday’s clash will arguably go down as the Mariners’ biggest game of the season so far as they look to move within 90 minutes of a possible promotion into the National League.

There have been several contenders for that tag with an FA Cup first round tie with League Two club Shrewsbury Town, home and away games with title rivals AFC Fylde and last weekend’s final day visit to Kidderminster Harriers all being played out in a high pressure environment. Mariners captain Tinkler believes his team-mates can draw on the experience they have gained throughout the season and boost their hopes of landing promotion into non-league’s elite.

He told The Gazette: “We have been in this situation earlier in the season and I spoke about it then. It’s huge - but the more you do it, the more experience you get and for the young lads, when they first experienced it earlier in the season, it is maybe good for them to revisit it. Earlier in the season, maybe it did get the better of some of the lads, understandably, but it’s time to go now isn’t it? Over the past four or five weeks, it’s been a season in itself and we’ve had games when it’s been pretty much a sell-out and that’s a new thing for a lot of people. As senior players in the dressing room, it’s down to us to help them understand it’s ok to be nervous, but you have to use it right.”

‘Bring the noise’

Over 2,000 tickets have been sold ahead of the game - but the attendance is set to rise significantly before kick-off at 4pm on Saturday afternoon. There is a chance the Mariners could post their highest attendance of the season and Tinkler is hoping to make the most of the support his side will face by embracing what is likely to be a memorable atmosphere.

When asked what was needed from supporters, the Mariners skipper replied: “Noise! We saw when we played Darlington, Merthyr brought a bunch of fans and when we come out to warm up and there’s a big noise, I think personally it helps. We warmed up in front of the Merthyr fans and I got a bit of a buzz from it. Get the drum beating, get the noise going and as early as possible because it helps the lads bed in a little bit. So it’s just bring the noise and support us.”

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