As the Northern League applies for an extension to the league season, clubs can almost begin to breathe a sigh of relief. The fixture count is now piling up by the week, teams need a helping hand from the powers above.
Especially as the weather from above has been extraordinarily poor in the month of February and for those who thought the second month of the year would offer something different to what we saw before, unfortunately it has been more of the same.
To the point where Newcastle Blue Star have not kicked a ball in anger for 17 days. Not since their impressive 3-0 win at Easington Colliery has manager Marc Nash been allowed to put his players through their competitive paces.
Inactivity for the Scotswood outfit, some activity elsewhere in the division and with league leaders Blyth Town getting the better of Chester-le-Street United at the weekend, the gap at the top has been extended to 10 points.
10 points but no more games in hand to be utilised, that is the margin of error between the two title chasers. It sounds a lot but the top two still need to play twice within the next six weeks or so and who knows what twists could appear beforehand.
No waving of the white flag as far as Nash and his management team are concerned. The same message will now be drummed into the players before they finally get the chance to return to action this evening.
Action that takes place at Doctor Pit Park and hosts Bedlington Terriers currently sit third in the table having played two games more than Blue Star. Both sides still have title aspirations going into this one, neither side can afford to drop any points.
While the two teams have already squared off in the league this season. Blue Star coming out on top in the late summer at Scotswood. A 3-2 thriller which displayed there is not a lot of difference between the two teams and now the Terriers will be keen to exact revenge.
Something which sets up Tonight’s clash rather nicely indeed. A big thanks to Bedlington Terriers for the upcoming hospitality and for those attending from an away perspective, safe travels both there and back.