Not many opponents have beaten Newcastle Blue Star since the start of the season, although there has been one that has picked up multiple victories during the campaign. Not a rival in football terms but in meteorological ones instead.
With a cold snap pushing back the Challenge Cup Final three weeks and last Saturday’s league meeting with Gateshead Rutherford also falling foul to the poor conditions, the weather has once again been the victor over the past few days.
While it has also made a dent in Blue Star’s gap at the top of the table. What was an eight-point margin is now just five. Burradon and New Fordley picked up a maximum at AFC Newbiggin in their last outing, the title race is now beginning to heat up.
Which is why improved conditions will be welcomed by Brian Smith and his management team before this Saturday, as Newcastle Chemfica will make their second visit to Scotswood in just under a month.
February’s visit was courtesy of League Cup matters and after a game that had plenty of back and forth across the 90 minutes, it was a single goal that made sure Blue Star generated further progress in the competition.
Progress that will see them travel to Alnwick next Friday, as a place in the final is up for grabs. Before that, Blue Star need to make sure that the three points on offer this Saturday are neatly nestled in their account.
Especially when you look at how busy April’s fixture schedule is going to be for the club. With the final third of the season having to be crammed into four weeks, it is going to be a test of the squad as a whole and it is probably going to be a test of supporters’ martial relationships at the same time.
Something which sets up Saturday’s clash rather nicely indeed. A warm welcome goes out to the traveling Newcastle Chemfica 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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