YORK City hope to progress in the FA Cup at a South Shields side who have lost just one of their last 50 matches.

The Evo-Stik North leaders had won 44 fixtures during a remarkable unbeaten, 45-game run before suffering a surprise 4-2 league defeat at mid-table Colwyn Bay three weeks ago.

But the Mariners Park men have since bounced back with four straight victories, including the impressive 3-0 second qualifying round victory at City’s National League North rivals Darlington that has teed up this weekend’s clash.

Prior to the Colwyn Bay blemish, the only anomaly in an otherwise, ten-month 100 per cent record saw Morpeth Town secure a 1-1 away draw in April.

That result could not stop Graham Fenton’s side from ending last season with four trophies, as their Northern League title was complemented by final triumphs in the FA Vase, Durham Challenge Cup and League Cup.

Shields are two points clear of Glossop North End with a game in hand at the top of a league that includes North Yorkshire duo Scarborough Athletic and Tadcaster Albion.

They are also the division’s top scorers with 24, although only have the fourth-best defence, with a Hyde back-line, coached by ex-Bootham Crescent centre-backs Darren Kelly and David McGurk, the meanest with just four goals shipped in eight matches.

Tomorrow’s hosts have a major injury concern, however, with former Middlesbrough and Sunderland midfielder Julio Arca, having missed last weekend’s 4-1 victory over Clitheroe due to a knock.

Arca, now 36, captained the side to their quadruple last term, having previously enjoyed seven seasons in the Premier League with the two north-east giants and skippered an Argentina team also boasting the likes of Maxi Rodriguez, Fabricio Coloccini, Javier Saviola and Nicolas Burdisso to Under-20 World Cup glory in 2001.

But if Arca, who combines his Shields playing commitments with a job coaching at Sunderland’s academy, is unavailable, ex-Aston Villa and Leicester midfielder Fenton can still call upon several players with considerable professional experience.

Winger Matty Pattison, now 30, also played ten times in the top flight with Newcastle, running out at the likes of Old Trafford, Stamford Bridge and White Hart Lane, before moving into the Championship with Norwich and emigrating to South Africa’s Mamelodi Sundowns.

Top scorer Carl Finningan, who has plundered six goals this term, scored 26 times in the Scottish Premier League, meanwhile, during a seven-season spell with Falkirk, St Johnstone and Dundee.

Additionally, ex-Bootham Crescent loan striker Jon Shaw, who wore the armband last week and is now a centre back, played for the Minstermen in the Football League, as well as for first club Sheffield Wednesday and Rochdale.

Midfielder Michael Richardson, 25, was farmed out to Leyton Orient, Gillingham and Accrington by Newcastle too before leaving St James’ Park three years ago.

Finally, Alex Nicholson enjoyed one outing for Preston, although the defender, along with Arca and Darren Lough, is doubtful for the Minstermen meeting.

Shield quintet Pattison, Finningan, Shaw, Craig Baxter and Dillon Morse also worked under City chief Gary Mills at Gateshead during his two-season reign from 2013 to 2015.