This weekend offers Newcastle Blue Star a welcome rest from league activity but before they put their feet up to relax, they have cup duties to deal with on Tuesday – duties that come in the shape of a trip to Ashington.
The Northumberland Senior Cup is the reason and the reward for the winner will be a place in the final four and with the roads to Wembley being closed off earlier in the season, a route to St James’ at the end of the campaign is still open for travel.
A route that was first opened with a routine 3-0 win over Bedlington Terriers in the First Round of this season’s competition and one that now sees Marc Nash and his players prepare to face Step 4 opposition in just a few hours.
While Blue Star’s preparations at the weekend could not have gone any better. A 3-1 home win at the newly named KD Stadium not only meant the recording of a league double over West Auckland this season but also a closure of the gap to the three teams that sit above them.
The Northern Division One table now has the first half of the season behind it and Blue Star are only seven points off the pace that Redcar Athletic have currently set and with plenty of football still to be played, it is consistency that will be the key between now and April.
Friday night’s victory over West Auckland was another that can be labelled as hard-fought but it was also another one where Blue Star were able to land a knockout blow on the chin of a Northern League promotion rival.
While the enforced rest that comes around this Friday will offer those players who are currently carrying a niggle or two or approaching a return to full fitness the opportunity to get up to speed before a busy festive period awaits.
A scenario that offers the management team the upcoming opportunity of a selection headache rather than the headache of trying to assemble a starting eleven and with competition for places up for grabs, it means every player involved finds that extra five or ten percent.
A percentage value that is also likely to be needed against Ashington and with Tuesday’s hosts currently sitting in the relegation zone of the Northern Premier League – East Division, it would be easy to suggest they are a fading force.
However, it can also offer a lazy assumption of just believing the job is already done and with Ashington looking to use this game as a launchpad for their survival bid, cup progress will be just as important to them as league points.
Something which sets up this Senior Cup clash rather nicely indeed. A big thanks to Ashington for the upcoming hospitality and for those attending from an away perspective, safe travels both there and back.
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