Although the FA Cup Third Round will make the biggest headlines, it is not the only silverware being contested this weekend. With this season’s League Cup campaign getting underway on Saturday, it is another frontier for Blue Star to embark on.
In a season that has now crept over its halfway stage, the surpassing of that marker did little in the way of offering festive cheer. A pre-Christmas defeat at home to Alnwick has changed the narrative of the Northern Alliance Premier Division title race.
With time to reflect, the performance was nowhere near the standard that has been set earlier in the season. However, there has also been plenty of time to focus on events that follow. A defeat that certainly stung in December, not one that should be dwelled on in January.
Even with defeat, the position in the league is still the same. No yuletide outing for the team that currently sits five points behind them, but Burradon & New Fordley have now played a game less. That title tussle will soon be rebooted, now it is cup progress that is up for grabs.
While it is fair to say that the League Cup draw has been rather favourable, as Heaton Stannington’s second string make the relatively short trip on Saturday. They do so while hoping for better fortunes than in the league.
Going into this clash, the visitors find themselves lying bottom of the Northern Alliance’s third tier. Two divisions between the two opposing clubs, plenty of places between them in the lengthy league ladder.
However, cup football would not be as romantic without the odd banana skin and this one has the making of a real David versus Goliath clash. Which means Blue Star will have to avoid being caught cold in the cold.
Something which sets up Saturday’s clash rather nicely indeed. A warm welcome goes out to the traveling Heaton Stannington players and support and for those who lend their voice to the home team, make sure to bring the noise throughout.