Festive cheer was delivered a few days early at the KD Stadium and with Santa arriving in the pre-match preparations, he would also be kind enough to hand Newcastle Blue Star a rather important present.
One that came in the shape of another three points for Marc Nash’s men and although his players had to earn the spoils that came their way in the end, there is also no doubt that such an outcome was deserved.
With Seaham Red Star providing the pre-Christmas opposition, it looked as if they could be in the mood to dampen any celebrations and although they conceded early on to a Dan Lanning strike, they would restore parity just minutes before the interval.
A goal that may have altered Nash’s team talk during the break but not a goal that altered Blue Star’s desire to win and with three goals arriving in the last 20 minutes of the game, another display of extra fitness and intensity proved to be the difference.
However, the entries on the scoresheet did not end there and with Blue Star old boy Harvey Walsh bagging a late consolation for the visitors, his well-taken strike may have taken a small amount of shine off the performance.
Not that the goal matters too much in the context of the night, more within the context of goal difference and with the positions at the top now even tighter, Shildon’s 5-0 win over Blyth the following day shows how important emphatic wins could end up being.
With that all said, three points are still three points regardless of the margin of victory and thanks to Blue Star’s win and the results that followed less than 24 hours later, the Scotswood outfit may still be fifth but they are now just three points behind league leaders Redcar Athletic.
Then again, it is not simply a case of looking up the table but also over your shoulder and with a handful of teams looking to squeeze their way into the playoff picture, the only way to keep them is to keep winning yourself.
Which brings Boxing Day into full focus and the relatively short trip down the Coast Road to Newcastle Benfield – a team that has only lost one of its last six and has picked up 13 points from the last 18 on offer.
Not only is there Newcastle Benfield’s form to consider but there is also an early kickoff of 11am to take into consideration and not only will this be a test of who wants it the most but also who ate the most the day before.
Something which sets up this Boxing Day clash rather nicely indeed. A big thanks to Newcastle Benfield for their upcoming hospitality and for those attending from an away perspective, safe travels both there and back.
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