The one thing you do not want to suffer is a football hangover after one of, if not the biggest result in your club’s history. Unfortunately for Newcastle Blue Star, their symptoms could not clear before their weekend meeting with Easington Colliery.
Heroes against North Ferriby last Tuesday, zeroes on the scoresheet at home to their local rivals just four days later. Progress in the FA Cup and a home tie with Hallam to follow this Saturday. The genuine road to Wembley in the FA Vase is now closed off for another season.
Disappointment to be knocked out at the first stage of proceedings for the second year in a row. Disappointment after failing to break down an Easington Colliery side that played with 10 men for 75 minutes plus.
A reckless tackle on Shaun Ryder made it far from a happy Saturday for the defender and although his afternoon would not end straight after being clattered, it was only a matter of minutes before an enforced change had to be made by manager Marc Nash.
Not the only change that Nash would make throughout the 90 minutes, but the changes were not enough to get back into the game and after such highs in midweek, subsequent defeat would offer a wake up call to those on the losing side.
As raw as defeat on home soil must have been, there is a quickfire opportunity to put things right and for all the focus that has been placed on knockout football over the past 10 days, it is now time to return to league matters.
With the league campaign restarting on Tuesday night at home to Shildon, Blue Star currently find themselves lying 10th in the table – an impressive enough standing for a promoted side but one that also comes with a caveat.
Due to knockout exploits, those teams above have played more league outings and with two games in hand over the majority of those outfits who have also had good starts, Blue Star’s current league standing is not necessarily a true performance of how they have fared thus far.
One of those teams that does sit above them is visitors Shildon and with seven league games already undertaken, they have managed to pick up 12 points from the first 21 on offer and will be keen to add more in a bid to strengthen any early promotion hopes.
Something which sets up this upcoming clash rather nicely. A warm welcome goes out to the visiting Shildon team and support and for those who lend their voice to the home team, make sure to bring the noise throughout.
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