After only meeting less than a fortnight ago, Newcastle Blue Star and Newcastle Independent are to do so once again. What was recently a top of the table skirmish in the league, is now a battle for further progress in the cup.
The Challenge Cup to be precise and with Friday’s fixture pairing the two sides together at the quarterfinal stage, the road to the final is a relatively short journey. However, it is a journey that only one team can continue after the weekend.
With Blue Star earning the bragging rights and more importantly maximum points in the league, their win of two weeks prior has crafted a rather neat subplot before Friday. A plot that sees Independent aim to exact revenge on their upcoming hosts.
While if they are to do so, they are going to have to improve on last Saturday’s showing in the Northern Alliance and after suffering a 6-1 defeat at home to Seaton Delaval, this was certainly the surprise result of the weekend.
Although there were no such surprises within NE15 and with Brian Smith’s men recording a 2-0 win over Gateshead Rutherford that same afternoon, further fuel has been placed in their title winning tank.
A two-goal win that could and arguably should have been more and if the same level of attacking waste is soon on display, there is every chance that Friday’s result could be far different from the one recorded previously.
Of course, a win is a still win and if the current league momentum can continue into the two cup fixtures that will be contested within in the next few weeks, the winter will be far from dark in Scotswood.
Which sets up Friday’s clash rather nicely indeed. A warm welcome goes out to the travelling Independent players and support and for those who lending their voice to the home team, make sure to bring the noise throughout.
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