We may only be in the first few days of August, but Tuesday already serves us Newcastle Blue Star’s fourth game of the campaign in all competitions and with cup football being the focus at the weekend, it is league action which takes centre stage in midweek.
More on Tuesday in a moment, as a quick look back on Blue Star’s FA Cup debut needs to be mentioned and after going behind to local rivals North Shields on Saturday, manager Marc Nash was not afraid to let his players know that battle had now commenced.
A battle that Blue Star would eventually go on to win with two headed goals – one in each half and after completing the comeback trail with a fine team performance, Scotswood’s finest would also complete their first step on the road to Wembley.
The first step complete and a first home FA Cup fixture to soon follow against North Ferriby on August 17th. Now though, the objective is reframed to league matters and their third fixture of this already busy Northern League Division Two schedule.
Lying in wait are upcoming hosts West Auckland and with Blue Star not only winning in the cup at the weekend but also in the league four days prior, there are positive signs of early form after an opening day blip at home to Marske United.
Of course, the table will not settle down until after the first six or so matches are played, until then it is simply a case of earning as many points as possible against teams that are largely unknown qualities.
Unknown qualities because of Blue Star’s own qualities that eventually secured them promotion a few months ago and with each Step 5 fixture being another incline on the football learning curve, they soon go up against a side that managed the same return of league points in July.
The same points but earned in the opposite fashion, with West Auckland making light work of Seaham Red Star on the opening weekend, they were then made light work of by Redcar Athletic just 72 hours later.
Additionally, West Auckland’s own FA Cup journey ended abruptly the same Saturday as Blue Star were getting the better of North Shields. Defeat to Bishop Auckland by two goals to nil means they will be keen to end their run of successive losses in all competitions.
Something which sets up this clash rather nicely indeed. A big thanks to West Auckland for the upcoming hospitality and for those attending from an away perspective, safe travels both there and back.
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