Newcastle Blue Star got their revenge over RACA for Tuesday’s defeat in Scotswood with a 2-1 win at an overcast and drizzly Kingsley Park. After a fairly even but scrappy opening period, Star were harshly awarded a penalty on 31 minutes but Dan Lanning’s strike from the spot was superbly saved by Brogan Colquhoun & the sides remained at 0-0, though eight minutes later Star did open the scoring when substitute Reagan Patterson fired home. The lead lasted just three minutes until Aaron Costello scored his 30th league goal of the season to restore parity for Albion. Before the interval Star should have been awarded a penalty due to a blatant push in the box but thankfully for RACA the referee waved play on & the sides went into the interval at 1-1.

The second half saw Blue Star dominate possession & went 2-1 up in the 50th minute from a corner when Shaun Ryder bundled it home amidst a sea of bodies in the box. Dan Lanning was denied his goal when Colquhoun pulled off another fine save, and there were to be no further goals as Albion spent most of the rest of the game on the back foot & Star made the short trip home deservedly with all three points. Not a bad bank holiday crowd considering the cold and drizzly conditions but the home fans maybe saw their team’s slim play-off hopes extinguished.

FT RACA 1 NEWCASTLE BLUE STAR 2 Attendance 302