After a two-week hiatus, Newcastle Blue Star were back in business on Tuesday night and although the temperature in Palmersville was approaching zero, the performance of Marc Nash’s men was far warmer.
With that being said, Blue Star were caught rather cold early on and for any supporters who would have made their way through the turnstiles after the game got underway, there is a likelihood that they missed the opening goal of the night.
An opener that came from West Allotment and with Tuesday’s hosts finding themselves with an early advantage, the question was posed as to just how long they could hold on to their one-goal lead.
The answer to that question was not all that long and with Dan Lanning restoring parity from the spot soon after, the complexion of the game changed in an instant – now it was all about Blue Star getting their noses ahead.
Something that they failed to do throughout the remainder of the first half and although there were plenty of opportunities to knock on West Allotment’s defensive door, it was just missing a firm enough touch to kick it down.
Even at the interval but a sense that the right things were being done right and if they continued to do so, manager Nash and his players would eventually make the trip back to Scotswood with all three points in their possession.
A premonition that would come true as once again fitness proved to be the difference maker and with another of Lanning’s runs into the channel being rewarded for his tireless endeavour, he was on hand to square the ball to recent signing Michael Ndiweni.
Perfect positioning and a perfect finish for Blue Star’s newest recruit to not only open his account but perhaps more importantly but Tuesday’s visitors ahead for the first time on the night and with just 10 minutes to go.
From there, a 2-1 win would have been more than enough but instead Lanning fancied a few more and with a second penalty of the night being slotted home with two minutes remaining, there was still time for his hat-trick to be completed with the final kick of the game.
The potentially tricky away task completed and one that sees Blue Star move back into the promotion playoff positions – moving two places higher up the ladder to fifth with still a number of games in hand on their rivals.
Standing in the way of another home maximum at the weekend is a Penrith side that currently finds itself siting in the middle of the Northern League Division One pack but a side that will be keen to exact revenge for the 3-2 defeat that they suffered in this season’s reverse fixture.
Something which sets up this upcoming clash rather nicely. A warm welcome goes out to the visiting Penrith team and support and for those who lend their voice to the home team, make sure to bring the noise throughout.
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