Title-chasers SSFCIA look to pick up points v Mansfield

South Shields International Academy must be “clinical” in their critical match in a table-climbing National Football Youth League fixture against Mansfield Town FC.

The Mariners enter the match having turned around their two-match skid, defeating I2I Red 3-0 on Thursday. 

Jaiden Odle, a wide back for Shields, believes an early start will cause Mansfield to stumble and never recover. He said: “When we get our chances we just have to put them away.

“We have to be clinical.

“If we put them away 20 minutes into the game they’ll fall out of it and won’t be able to get back into it hopefully.”

The Mariners tight schedule sees them playing seven fixtures in a five-week window, meaning fitness is going to be extremely important as they continue to control their own destiny in the title race.

Odle Said: “[Fitness] will be a key component for the rest of the season, because if we don’t have players it is going to cause a disruption in the group.”

Shields have the advantage of playing at home in six of their final seven matches and he said: “It is more comfortable since we’re used to playing on our home pitch. 

“The whole morale of the team is up.”

Cai Pritchard will look to extend his tally on Monday.

He currently sits at 15 goals in all competitions, two behind Chesterfield FC’s Alexander Duhameau.