Marske will run out at Newcastle Benfield buoyed by a 4-1 win over Guisborough in the Northern League Cup
Marske will run out at Newcastle Benfield tomorrow buoyed by one of their best performances of the season.
That’s the verdict of boss Ted Watts after seeing his side crush fierce derby rivals Guisborough 4-1 on Tuesday to go through to the Northern League Cup semi-finals.
The Seasiders fell behind to a Luke Bythway shot after just 19 seconds.
But they came charging back to go 2-1 up through former Guisborough players Jamie Poole and Austin Johnson.
Craig Gott added a crackerjack third and Glen Butterworth - another former Guisborough player - weighed in with their fourth.
“It was right up there with our best performances of the campaign,” Watts said.
“The last four times we had played them, we hadn’t scored a goal.
“We conceded a stupid goal to begin with, but defended really well after that.
“They had a lot of possession but never really hurt us.
“We have had some poor performances but confidence is high again.”
Marske have now won their last three after getting over a severe rough patch.
And Watts said the fact that the improvement has come hand in hand with veteran striker Jamie Clarke’s arrival is no coincidence.
“Clarkey is an experienced lad who has looked after himself,” he added.
“He scores goals and holds the ball up, brings other people into play and allows us to get out.”
Lev Yalcin will be missing at Benfield but Marske are hoping to bolster their forward line in time for kick-off.
Guisborough have extended Boro goalkeeper Luke Coddington’s loan for another 28 days and will face Sunderland RCA at home with a fresh focus after being brought back down to earth at Marske.
“The reality is that we maybe went into the Marske game with a bit of complacency, and we spoke about that after the game,” said Hardy, whose side had won 4-0 in the league at the GER Stadium only 18 days previously.
“It’s a fine line between winning and losing, but we have got to take the positives out of it and go into tomorrow with a new focus.”
After dropping down two places to 11th with last week’s 3-1 defeat at home to Dunston, Billingham Synthonia have former Boro defender Andrew Burton back for their trip to Crook.
Utility man Dan Newby is fit again but keeper Seb Furness is unavailable, so James Briggs will continue in goal.
All the evidence points to another damage limitation exercise for Billingham Town at home to Shildon after they were pummelled silly in a 10-0 defeat at the Railwaymen’s fellow title challengers Spennymoor on Tuesday night.
Former Watford striker Liam Henderson scored four of Moors’ goals and there was a hat-trick from Gavin Cogdon along with further strikes from ex-Synners skipper Chay Liddle, Sonny Andrews and Wayne Phillips.
Thornaby will hope to be back somewhere near full strength at Ryton after injuries and the fixture list caught up with them in Tuesday’s 4-0 drubbing at Whickham.
Manager Neil Radigan had to play the full 90 minutes as they only travelled with 11 men and lost Craig Winter to a back injury in the warm-up.
Midfielder Ricky Phillips was also sent off for the second game in a row, his fourth dismissal in 12 Thornaby appearances.
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