Shildon vs Newcastle Blue Star (28/02/2026)

Newcastle Blue Star’s Northern League Division One unbeaten run continued on Tuesday, it is now six games unbeaten for Paul Brayson’s men. A trip to Marske looking like it was going to pay out another three points, those three being downgraded to one in the dying moments of the game.

The scores level at 0-0 at the interval, Dan Lanning drawing first blood midway through the second half. His strike worthy of winning any game of football and on another evening or afternoon it would have.

However, Marske’s bid to avoid the drop is just as important as Blue Star’s bid to surge further up the league ladder. Never underestimate a team fighting for their lives in this division, their late leveller providing further inroads to Northallerton situated above.

A share of the points by the sea, now 12 from the last 18 on offer for Blue Star – if the form guide was paying out places in the playoff at the end of the season, Paul Brayson’s men would be neatly positioned in fourth with only Guisborough, Shildon and Birtley currently better off.

While it is the second of that trio that are this weekend’s opposition. Shildon playing the role of hosts and this will be the first time that Blue Star have played on the home team’s new surface. Last season the two outfits played out a 2-2 draw at Dean Street thanks to a late comeback from the visitors.

Late drama that afternoon, not so much when Shildon visited the KD Stadium earlier this season. The promotion hopefuls heating up their bid with a 3-1 win last July. They will be keen to add another three points in their bid to keep Guisborough at bay the top of the table.

Then again, Blue Star will be keen to exact revenge for their midsummer night’s defeat to Shildon. Not only to redress the loss of seven months prior but to also to redress their dropped points at Marske in midweek.

Something which sets up today’s clash rather nicely indeed. A big thanks to Shildon for the upcoming hospitality and for those attending from an away perspective, safe travels both there and back.