Newcastle Blue Star continued their impressive start to the Northern League season, defeating Esh Winning 4-1 this afternoon.
Early goals from Dan Lanning, Ryan Carr, and Lee Mason meant Blue Star cruised into an early lead, with Lanning cementing the victory in the second half – followed by a consolation goal by the home side.
Blue Star made the trip to Durham looking to make it four wins on the bounce, following their 3-1 victory against Billingham Synthonia in midweek. Esh Winning meanwhile entered the game looking for their first points of the season having suffered defeat in their first two opening fixtures.
Blue Star started the game in extra-quick fashion, racing into a 1-0 lead in the 3rd minute – with Harvey Walsh’s piercing cross finding Lanning in the box who slotted home into the bottom corner. ‘The Star’ were once again on the goal hunt two minutes later, when Carr was brought down in the box and a penalty was awarded. Lanning would step up to the penalty spot in search of his second goal, his penalty however would be saved by the Esh Winning goalkeeper.
Brian Smith’s side did not let the penalty miss affect them however soon making it 2-0 in the 11th minute, with Lanning’s saved shot rebounding perfectly at the feet of Carr, who tapped home. Esh Winning would grow even more frustrated conceding yet another goal in the 17th minute, with Lee Mason calmly slotting home Blue Star’s third of the afternoon.
As the half wore on the pace of the game started to slow, with Blue Star comfortably keeping possession of the ball. However, Esh Winning would come close to scoring with their number 10 seeing his effort cleared off the line in the 35th minute. Despite chances falling the way of both Lanning and Carr, there would be no more goals before the break meaning Blue Star went into halftime with a comfortable 3-0 lead.
Clearly seething with his side's first-half performance, the Esh Winning manager made a number of changes at the break and they seemed to work with his side being a lot more defensively solid in the second half. With Blue Star’s standards slipping, Esh Winning started to grow into the game, with their number 11 and 10 coming close to scoring.
Blue Star boss Brian Smith would then make some changes of his own - which seemed to wake his side up, with Lanning soon volleying home a scoring a fourth goal in the 74th minute.
However, Blue Star’s sloppiness would soon resurface as a mix-up at the back would lead to the Esh Winning number 16 getting one back for his side, in the 81st minute.
'The Star' however would eventually run out as comfortable 4-1 winners and maintain their unbeaten start to the season.