Darlington RA's last chance of cup glory will be at Whitehaven tomorrow when they play in the second round of the Wearside League Cup.

And although beaten last Saturday for the first time in a number of weeks, manager Dave Woodcock is confident of a winning result.

"I thought we played really well in the first half but it is easy to see how Birtley Town score so many goals. I said before the match that they are probably the best team in the league and they certainly showed it in the second period," said Woodcock.

But the manager is enthusiastic about his side's chances at Whitehaven. "Six weeks ago we went into games expecting to get beat - now we always think we can win and the lads were devastated to lose 4-2 last Saturday after leading 2-0."

Woodcock will be unable to call upon Robbie Hawman but is hoping that Andrew Roberts will play so that he will have a near full-strength squad to choose from.

Elsewhere in the League, Wilf Keilty and Paul Hogg have established personal records with North Shields.

The former recently made his 250th appearance and last week Hogg played his 100th game for the Robins.

Keilty's involvement at Ralph Gardner Park began in October 1986 when he made his debut in the Northern League game away to Peterlee Newtown. After three seasons with the Robins, he moved on to Tow Law Town and Whickham before returning as player coach under assistant manager Terry Paddison.

The Shieldsmen won the Wearside League championship in 2001/2 and when Paddison left in the summer of 2002, Eddie Freeman and Kenny Charlton took over for a short period.

Their departures led to Keilty being invited to become manager and he led the side in a 10-match unbeaten run. They were unable to retain the title but clinched the Monkwearmouth Charity Cup with victory over Darlington RA.

Hogg meanwhile, was recently made player coach and he celebrated his centenary appearance in last week's game against Wolviston. He played his first match in the 1999/2000 season and although not a regular scorer, he has done reasonably well for a defender.

Tomorrow's fixtures: Wearside League Cup Second Round (1.30pm except where indicated): Barnard Castle Glaxo v Gateshead Reserves, Boldon CA v Cleadon SC, Harton and Westoe v Annfield Plain, North Shields v New Marske, Ryhope CW v Birtley Town (2 pm), Stokesley SC v Windscale, Whitehaven v Darlington RA, Wolviston v Jarrow.