NORTH Shields boss Graham Fenton admits his own experiences at the top level of English football will not necessarily prove an advantage as his side look to end Highworth Town’s FA Vase adventure.

Fenton, who twice commanded transfer fees in excess of £1 million in a top-flight career that included spells at Aston Villa, Blackburn Rovers and Leicester City, leads the competition favourites into battle at a packed Elms for this afternoon’s first leg (3pm).

Shields arrive having blazed a trail through the Vase, averaging more than three goals a game through their seven ties to date and Fenton said: “It’s been pleasing especially the last three rounds, not just our results, but our performances have been good.”

“The lads have done exactly what I asked of them.

“I just pass on my experiences and what helped me, it might work for a few of the lads, it might not work for a few of the lads, that’s an individual thing.

“It’s up to them whether it applies to them.”

Fenton believes remaining in contention at the end of today’s 90 minutes will be the key goal – for both sides.

“I guess that would be both teams’ objective not to be out of the game, so there’s a high focus on discipline and just a solid away performance,’’ he added.

“We’ll be looking to try and win the game, but I think both teams will be certainly looking to not lose it in the first leg.

“I’ve never been involved in two-legged ties. A couple of times (I’ve) played in Europe and it’s not easy.

“Especially when you’re going to places like Turkey and you’ve got to play in a hostile environment, you do go and try and shut up shop and quieten the crowd and try and get back on your own patch.

“I think it’s less relevant at this level, obviously the journey is biggest thing.

“You haven’t got the hostility of huge 40-50,00 crowds, but still the journey and sleeping away from your own comforts can affect some people.”

Shields travelled down yesterday afternoon in preparation for the first leg and added: “It’s unchartered territory for both teams isn’t it, so it’s quite an interesting tie.”

“The preparation has been the same as normal.

“For us it’s just a game of football that we prepare for.

“Obviously I’ve seen Highworth and noticed one or two things that we’ve touched on, but we do that with most teams that we play against, in the lead up to games.

“I’ve got a lot of experience going away on road trips and you try and make the lads as comfortable as they can be going away from home, but it’s never the same as being at home, you just make do.

“We kind of feel like we’ve had a tough draw. We’ve played six Northern League teams and it is never easy to get through that many rounds. The lads enjoyed their trip way to Erith last time and hopefully they’ll enjoy their trip this weekend.’’