NORTH Shields’ stadium takes its name from a local funeral director Darren Persson and is known as ‘the Morgue’. The Robins boss Graham Fenton is hoping it is where Highworth Town’s FA Vase dreams are laid to rest.

In order to do that his side will have to improve on their performance at the Elms. Despite being the more fancied side going into the first leg, the Shields boss left feeling lucky to have taken a 1-0 lead in the tie.

Before last Saturday’s clash both managers were keen not to be out of the tie after 90 minutes and nervousness percolated the flow throughout, though Highworth did seem to throw off some caution in the second half and were unlucky not to score.

With a place at Wembley now just 90 minutes away Fisher’s side having nothing to lose whereas Fenton’s men must choose whether to stick or twist.

The Shields chief seems to be happy to sit on his lead and force the Worthians to play through his side, with the hope of picking off the visitors, much like they did for their goal last Saturday.

“We focused on not giving anything away, and now they have to break us down and open us up to score goals,” Fenton told the Newcastle Chronicle.

“When we had to make last-ditch tackles, the lads were fantastic. We’ve just got to tidy our other stuff up at the top end of the pitch where, if we’d been on top form, maybe we could have scored a couple more.

“That’s been worked on in training on Monday and Wednesday, and we’ll be better. We can’t be that bad on Saturday.

“Everybody’s positive and our boys are not taking anything for granted.

“They know they’ve got to play better this Saturday. That was not one of our better performances on Saturday (at the Elms).”

Fenton feels his players passed the rigours of making a long away trip, staying away from their families and playing in conditions less familiar.

Now he has shifted the pressure on to Highworth to produce in adverse conditions, in the knowledge his side’s home support will provide fervent support and an intimidating atmosphere.

“Highworth might think that they’ve got a chance, fair play to them,” he added.

“But they’ve got to handle the journey, staying in a hotel. We can do our own preparation, relax and have the advantage of the crowd and we’ve got to make the most of all of these things.”

Saturday’s fixture at the Darren Persson Stadium is a 1,500 sell-out, but Shields have had to put some restrictions on which parts can be used. The area of grass-covered banking within the ground, popular with some sections of supporters, will be cordoned off on Saturday, and not for use by spectators.