After a weather-affected couple of weeks, Newcastle Blue Star returned to Northern League action with a well-fought 2-1 win against Prudhoe YC.
Goals from Lee Mason and Dan Lanning were enough for three points, despite a late fightback from the home side.
Blue Star headed into the fixture having not tasted victory for a number of weeks thanks to the winter weather. Prudhoe meanwhile were fresh from a 3-1 defeat to Chester-le-Street United on Wednesday night.
With a big crowd packed into Essity Park, it would be a cagey start to the game – with neither side able to take control of the ball.
The game's first significant chance would fall at the feet of Lanning, whose side-footed effort was blocked off the line in the 28th minute. Lanning would nearly score again just two minutes later; firing a volley off the crossbar.
Blue Star however would soon get the goal they desired, with Mason finding a yard of space in the box and arrowing the ball into the bottom corner to give his side the lead, in the 39th minute.
Mason’s well-taken goal meant Blue Star headed into the break with a 1-0 lead.
‘The Star’ would carry their momentum into the second half and double their lead in the 54th minute. Lanning would cut in from the left-hand side and curl his effort beautifully into the far corner, taking his league tally to 13 goals so far this season.
Following Blue Star’s second, Prudhoe started to grow into the game and nearly got themselves a goal back in the 61st minute, when their number 10 fired a shot inches past the post.
The home side would have another chance to a claw goal back in the 79th minute, but their number two would blaze over from close range.
Just as the game seemed as if it would peter out for a comfortable 2-0 win for Blue Star, Prudhoe would provide some late drama by getting a goal back in the 88th minute, with their number 14 rifling the ball into the bottom corner.
Eight minutes were then added to the clock and Prudhoe threw absolutely everything forward in an aim to get an equaliser. They would nearly be caught on the counter though as Blue Star looked to kill the game off, with both Dean Holmes and Lanning hitting the woodwork in the space of thirty seconds.
As the game entered the final minutes, Blue Star once again caught the home side on the break, with Prudhoe’s number five receiving a second yellow for a tactical foul on Lanning.
Despite all the late drama, Blue Star would hold onto their slender lead and leave Essity Park with a well-fought 2-1 victory.