South Shields backed to 'stand up to the challenge' against Spennymoor Town and Darlington

Ian Watson believes South Shields’ resilience can help his side come through what is likely to be a challenging Bank Holiday weekend.

The Mariners head into Friday’s visit to Spennymoor Town sitting four points behind National League North leaders AFC Fylde - although they do also have the benefit of holding a game in hand on the current frontrunners. That gap could have been greater had Watson’s men not bounced back from defeats at Hereford and King’s Lynn Town by collecting maximum points from home games against Merthyr Town and Alfreton Town over the last fortnight.

Watson has praised his players for their reaction to their double disappointment on the road and insisted they can head continue ‘standing up to the challenge’ when they head to Brewery Field.

He told The Gazette: “We knew there was going to be a moment where we were going to have a difficult little spell where we might lose a game and we might have to react. Obviously there are still six or seven games remaining and there might be one of those moments coming - but it’s important we know we can react to it.

“I think at this point of the season you expect the unexpected in terms of results - but we know what we have in the changing room, we know that the boys will react, they haven’t hidden from anything, they have went into games with their chests out and they are standing up to the challenge.”

Focus

Although his focus remains on his players, the next two games offer a moment of personal satisfaction for Watson as the Mariners face two clubs their manager represent during his playing career. Both Spenny and Darlo are firmly in the National League North play-off picture ahead of the weekend - but Watson has stressed the need for his squad to focus on their own game, rather than the recent exploits of their upcoming opponents.

“It’s a difficult weekend but it’s an exciting weekend and these are the games you want to be part of,” he explained. “It’s two clubs that are doing well too. Tommy (Miller) has gone into Spennymoor and they’re doing well and Steve (Watson) and Terry (Mitchell) are doing incredibly well at Darlington and both clubs are good sides that bring difficult challenges.

“But they won’t be looking to facing us either and we have to focus on ourselves and turn up with that energy and belief in the group. That is what we have worked on a lot and getting the boys to believe they are as good as they can be when they do certain things and they do certain things to a high level. We have so many ways we can hurt the opposition and we are expecting two really tough games. But it’s exciting at the same time and that is how I want everyone to approach both games over the weekend.”

Watson will assess the fitness of a number of members of his squad before finalising his plans for a hectic Bank Holiday weekend.

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