Newcastle Blue Star’s promotion hopes were dealt a blow yesterday, as they played out a disappointing 0-0 stalemate with Esh Winning.
Described as a “disgusting performance” by Blue Star boss Marc Nash, the draw now leaves ‘The Star’ seven points behind league leaders Blyth Town.
Heading into the game, Blue Star were unsurprisingly the bookies favourite having ran out comfortable 4-1 winners in the return fixture, back in August. Since then, though, Esh Winning’s fortunes have turned around, picking up some impressive wins over Jarrow and Chester-le-Street Town.
Blue Star would start the game on the front foot with an early chance falling the way of Matty Dopson in the 2nd minute, whose long-range effort nearly found the top corner.
That however would be as good as it got for Blue Star, with the majority of chances falling the way of the away side. The first of those being in the 22nd minute, when their number ten raced in behind the Blue Star defence, tapping the ball round the on-rushing Aaron Steavens, only to see it trickle past the far post.
The Esh Winning number ten would have another chance to break the deadlock seven minutes later, seeing his shot drift inches past the post again.
Despite the away side’s chances, the score remained 0-0 at the half-time break.
Flat, sloppy and lacking ideas, ‘The Star’ started the second half looking to right the wrongs of the first.
Sadly, for the Blue Star fans though, Marc Nash’s side could not conjure up any attacking threat at all, nearly being caught on the break in the 50th minute, only for the Esh Winning number ten to let Blue Star off the hook yet again, blazing his shot over from close range.
As the game petered on Blue Star grew more and more frustrated, bringing on the likes of Nelson Ogbewe and Dan Lanning, to try and rescue the win. Esh Winning, however, would stand firm and hold on for an impressive point on the road, 0-0.