NPL Match Preview: Warrington Town vs South Shields

South Shields travel to Warrington Town on Saturday as they bid to continue their fine form in the Pitching In Northern Premier League (3pm kick-off).

The Mariners have won their last three games to climb to second in the table, a point behind leaders Gainsborough Trinity.

Shields defeated Bamber Bridge 5-0 on Tuesday, but they are expecting a stern challenge against Warrington, who have emerged victorious in the last two meetings between the sides, including in the Isuzu FA Trophy last month.

The Yellows are eighth in the table having lost their last three games, and sit six points behind the Mariners.

Manager's views

Shields manager Kevin Phillips is pleased with how Shields have performed since a 1-0 defeat to previous leaders Hyde United earlier this month, but insists the hard work has just begun.

He said: “I was delighted with the win on Tuesday and I thought the all-round performance was excellent.

“Ultimately, though, it was just another football match, and Warrington will be a completely different test.

“We’ve lost the last two times we’ve played against them, so we know it will be a tough match, but we’re in a really good place.”

Shields’ last four league fixtures have been at home, but they now head into a sequence of five games out of six on the road.

Phillips feels rest and recovery will be key for his players if they are to have a successful winter.

He added: “I won’t get carried away with where we are in the league, because it’s about where we finish at the end of the season.

“We ended the mini-run of home matches well, and now we’ve got five away games in six.

“We’ve got a tough run on the road and a lot of travelling, so there will be a lot of recovery and a lot of rest.

“From my experience in football, rest is as important as training, mentally and physically.

“They’ll get plenty of that and as long as they perform like they did on Tuesday, we’ll be OK.”

Team news

Shields go into Saturday’s game without Sam Hodgson (foot) and Conor Newton (calf), but they are hoping Jordan Hunter will be fit after sustaining a knock on Tuesday.

Striker Will Russ is no longer part of the squad after being recalled from his loan spell by parent club Fleetwood Town.

Information for supporters

Kick-off at Cantilever Park – which has a post code of WA4 2RS – is at 3pm and admission prices at the turnstiles are £12 for adults, £8 for concessions and £3 for under-16s. You can secure a discount by purchasing in advance by clicking here.

Supporters who are unable to make it to the game can tune in to live commentary from Chris May and Ronnie Peet on the Mariners Live Mixlr page by clicking here.