After recently suffering their first league defeat of the season, Newcastle Blue Star replied with the perfect response and with a trip to Prudhoe’s Essity Park taking place a week or so ago, they would eventually get the better of Newcastle University by four goals to one.
A performance that saw them struggle with the first module or half as it is perhaps better known and with Brian Smith’s men going into the interval all square – and that was after going behind, it was time for NE15’s finest to go up through the gears.
If the first 45 minutes were not getting ticks in the right places, the next 45 minutes was something of a crash course for their University opponents and with three unanswered goals being added to the Blue Star scoresheet, it would be they who left with just as many points.
Points that have subsequently cut the gap between league leaders Blyth Town and themselves. The margin was seven before Saturday’s encounter and with the weather getting the better of the table toppers, it is now down to four.
While the current pacesetters are also preoccupied with the FA Vase on Saturday and this means increased focus will be placed towards the top of the Northern League. Especially as the race for supremacy has seen a few more contenders enter the fray.
Going into the trip to Brandon United, Blue Star currently find themselves lying fourth in the table but they also know that a second successive maximum on the road, would thrust them right back into the promotion pack.
Those with good memories will know that Brandon United have already been put to the sword at Scotswood, as they succumbed to a 5-0 defeat in mid-August. Since then, there has been wholesale change at the club but at the same time, those taking to the field will be keen to exact some revenge.
Something which sets up Saturday’s clash rather nicely indeed. A big thanks to Brandon United for the upcoming hospitality and for those attending from an away perspective, safe travels both there and back.