Birtley vs Newcastle Blue Star (25/04/2026)

Every win that Newcastle Blue Star have recorded these past few weeks has extended the competitiveness of their season by another few days. A seven-game winning streak in the league taking matters all the way to the final day, further progress in the cup secured on Tuesday.

Victory in the League Cup quarter-final in midweek means it is now nine wins in a row in all competitions for Paul Brayson’s men. Newcastle University putting up a challenge at the start of the week, Blue Star passing the exam with top marks.

Prudhoe’s Essity Park playing host to the two sides and although the first 40 minutes resembled a late season sparring session, it was Blue Star’s Sean Reid who managed to land a timely knockout blow before the interval.

His header from a well measured Collins Unareokpa cross changed the tone of the half time team talk and in the second half Blue Star’s additional quality made all the difference against their Second Division counterparts.

A second for Reid as he expertly slotted home from 12 yards, a first senior goal for youngster Jay Richardson making sure of a place in the League Cup semi-final before Newcastle University bagged a late consolation.

A 3-1 win on Tuesday, setting up a cup semi with Birtley on Saturday. The Arrowmark Home Improvements Stadium serving as the stage where these two sides will face off for the opportunity to face North Shields in next week’s final.

An enticing proposition for both sides before they take to the field on Saturday but both Birtley and Blue Star know they cannot afford to take their eyes off the task in hand. The first one to blink will not see their season extended further.

The two sides met as recently as last month in the league, a late flurry of home goals at the KD Stadium giving Blue Star all three points in a 3-1 win. However, that was only revenge for suffering a 5-3 defeat at Saturday’s venue six months ago.

Both teams claiming the scalp of each other on home soil, it is Birtley who have home advantage this weekend. Can they put that advantage to good use or will Blue Star make it a perfect ten in terms of successive wins.

Something which sets up this clash rather nicely indeed. A big thanks to Birtley Town for the upcoming hospitality and for those attending from an away perspective, safe travels both there and back.