Denied by a late goal last weekend, triumphant because of one on Monday night. This has been the football rollercoaster that Newcastle Blue Star have been riding on lately and no sooner do they celebrate their win at the start of the week, do they now have midweek action to prepare for.
After being held by Blyth in the dying seconds on Saturday, it was Blue Star who found late joy just over 48 hours later and after finding themselves behind to Chester-le-Street Town early on, it was time for the Scotswood outfit to roll up their sleeves on home soil.
However, for all the endeavour that the hosts showed, they could not break down the defence of their stubborn opponents. That was until Dan Lanning’s expertly measured freekick with just 15 minutes ago. An equaliser found, still plenty of time to find a winner.
While it is fair to say that all the allotted time was used and with the literal last kick of the game (bar the subsequent kickoff that must follow after a goal), Lanning’s persistence in chasing a lost cause turned one point into three.
Another win on the board for Marc Nash’s men and further momentum being cultivated before the playoff phase of the season begins. That is now 14 points from the last 18 on offer and this positions the club at the top of the form table before tonight’s trip to Chester-le-Street United.
Top of the form table and second in the Northern League Division Two standings and with just two league encounters remaining before we truly get down to promotion business, now it is a case of working out who finishes where and when they play.
The second part of that conundrum is yet to be solved; the first part is very much in the hands of Blue Star. Should they win tonight and on Saturday, second in the table would be assured and a home playoff semi-final would be guaranteed against whoever finishes fifth.
There is a scenario where second can be secured this evening and if Blue Star do their bit on the road while at the same time Bedlington Terriers slip up against Chester-le-Street Town, Saturday’s trip to Thornaby then becomes nothing more of a dead rubber.
Regardless of potential favours elsewhere, the easiest way to dictate your own fate is by getting the job done yourself and although Chester-le-Street United have nothing to play for themselves, they would love to claim a scalp to end the campaign on a high.
Something which sets up this clash rather nicely indeed. A big thanks to Chester-le-Street United for the upcoming hospitality and for those attending from an away perspective, safe travels both there and back.