Tuesday night offers up the second cup outing in the space of a week and after Newcastle Blue Star went toe to toe with the next generation of Newcastle United, they will now look to be head and shoulders above FC Hartlepool.
The Northumberland Senior Cup last week, the Brookes Mileson Memorial League Cup this. A competition that is open to all clubs competing in the Northern League, a competition that Blue Star would love to have a crack at winning.
Especially as their bid to be the kings of Northumberland were curtailed by the mini Magpies. A 5-0 defeat serves as the scoreline but the experience will hopefully be worth a lot more come the end of the campaign.
If they are to get hold of the Silver Challenge Cup which serves as this competition’s overall prize, they must make sure they do not fall at the first hurdle. Standing in their way of progress are an FC Hartlepool side that are 11 places worse off in the current Northern League table.
That said, league places should not be judged as the indicating factor before the meeting at Grayfields Enclosure. The hosts may find themselves nestling in midtable at the time of writing, they are also one of the form teams in the division.
A statement that Brian Smith’s men know only too well. The two sides have met only recently at Scotswood. Six goals were shared on a soaking wet Friday night and unfortunately for the current league leaders, so were the points.
A draw that has served as something of a springboard for this Hartlepool side. Since that stalemate, they have also gone on to beat Horden Community Welfare and Prudhoe Youth Club Seniors and with an unbeaten run being crafted, they will not be in a mood to down tools anytime soon.
Something which sets up tonight’s clash rather nicely indeed. A big thanks to FC Hartlepool for the upcoming hospitality and for those attending from an away perspective, safe travels both there and back.