After last week saw Blue Star record a comfortable win in the Challenge Cup, their focus now returns to league matters and although every weekend is viewed as important, the next few days could be the most pivotal of all.
With third-place Newcastle Independent playing host to Burradon & New Fordley in second, at least one of these title challengers will drop points on Saturday and if Blue Star earn three the night before, it will only further enhance their bid for the title.
However, for Brian Smith and his players to truly profit from events elsewhere, they must take care of their own business first. Business that comes in the form of welcoming Haltwhistle Jubilee to NE15.
Going into this game, the host’s unbeaten run in all competitions stretches to over two months, and with more cup football to come next week, continued momentum will be just as important as maximum points.
While of the four home games that Blue Star have contested in the league thus far, they have managed to win three of them. In addition to this, when they win on home soil in the Northern Alliance, they have also kept a clean sheet.
A statistic that Haltwhistle will only be too aware of. With each of their five away fixtures ending in defeat, they have toiled on the road and with just four of their 24 league goals being recorded on their travels, they have rarely tested the opposition’s defence on enemy territory.
Then again, complacency has a habit of catching teams out when they least expect it and if the usual standards are not displayed by the current league leaders, their upcoming opponents would love nothing more than to spoil the party.
Which sets up Friday’s clash rather nicely indeed. A warm welcome goes out to the traveling Haltwhistle players and support and for those who lend their voice to the home team, make sure to bring the noise throughout.
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