Shildon manager Gary Forrest says that they won’t be changing their approach for one of the most important away games in their history at Tunbridge Wells today.

Shildon make their first ever Vase semi final appearance in the first leg in Kent today, in front of a 1,000 plus crowd, with at least 100 making the long journey down from County Durham, in what is probably their biggest away game since they played at Notts County in the 2003 FA Cup.

The Railwaymen have won five Vase games on their travels this season and 21 away ties in the last seven years, and the manager sees no point in changing what has so far been a successful formula ahead of the game at the Culverden.

“We’re going to treat it in the same way as we have every other Vase away game so far this season,” he said. “We have travelling to away games down to a fine art. Everything is planned to the last detail to make sure that the players are in the right frame of mind and in the right physical condition. We control everything they do, from what time the bus picks them up, to what they eat on the way to the game, what time they have breakfast, all sorts. We even control the portion sizes -- coach Phil Brumwell acts as a dinner nanny and makes sure that the players don’t eat too much at breakfast and pinches sausages from their plates!

“Basically, we try not to let the players get bored and start to worry about the game. Three years ago before we played Whitley Bay in the Vase quarter final, we stayed in a hotel the night before the game, and the players got bored and worried about the game. We learned from that experience.

“We won’t even talk about the opposition until close to kick off. Look at the Ascot games, the performances were as different as chalk and cheese. For the home game, the players were nervous and scared, but for the away replay, they had no fear at all. That shows how important the preparation is.”

Forrest, along with coach Phil Brumwell and assistant manager Stuart Niven, has received several run downs on the opposition which they’ll keep amongst themselves.

“We’ve had a good report on Tunbridge Wells from Dunston, who lost to them two rounds ago. They’ve given us a breakdown of every player, but we’ll keep that to the three of us. We won’t be doing anything really special, because unlike pro clubs we don’t have enough time to practice stuff like setpieces.”

Shildon virtually won their replay at Ascot by half time, and Forrest says that they’ll go on the attack as soon as they can.

“We’ll be on the front foot from the first whistle, taking the game to them. How often have you seen teams go and watch the opposition, then change their tactics and lose? It’s all down to individual battles. We take the attitude that we’re every bit as good as the opposition, so let’s go and win the game. The players have shown their character several times – for example, against Ascot at our place, at Consett when we were 2-0 down at half time, and against South Shields when we were behind twice.

“If we’re 1-0 up with ten minutes remaining, I’ll be telling our players to go for a second.”

Shildon only had the bare eleven for their magnificent win at Ascot in the last round, but this afternoon Forrest will have the luxury of at least three subs, as Ben Wood, Billy Greulich-Smith and Chris McCabe all expect to pass themselves fit.