UniBond league division one North

Aug 25 2008 The Journal

Bamber Bridge 1, Newcastle Blue Star 4

FOLLOWING a five-goal opening day blitz and a midweek defeat, Newcastle Blue Star were back on the goals trail in the UniBond League Division One North game at Bamber Bridge.

Director of football Bob Morton anticipated a difficult match but the Tynesiders dominated almost throughout the 90 minutes.

They had chances to open the scoring before breaking the deadlock after 19 minutes as a cross from Blue Star’s man of the match Chris Fawcett was headed powerfully into the net by Paul Brayson.

Despite their dominance it was not until the stroke of half time that Blue Star made their supremacy count as Neil Hooks struck.

Fawcett was again the provider for Hooks’ second goal in the 51st minute and it was all over for Bamber Bridge as Leon Scott made it four on the hour.

Blue Star continued to run the show but just before the end Shaun O’Neil claimed a consolation goal, beating Daniel Lowson who had had little to do in the visitors’ goal.

NEWCASTLE BLUE STAR: Lowson; Craddock, Scott, Carr, Flynn, McClen (Nicholson), McTiernan, Hooks, Brayson (Novak), Emms (Stephenson), Fawcett.

Referee: Mr Thorley.

Attendance: 152.

Durham City 0, Colwyn Bay 0

ALTHOUGH still unbeaten in the UniBond League Division One North, Durham City will rue the chances they missed against Colwyn Bay at the Arnott Stadium.

Despite being without key players, City had sufficient chances to claim all three points but squandered a number of openings, especially in the second half.

In the event, the woodwork saved both teams. In the first half Matt Wood fired against the Durham crossbar and Ian Dixon had to step in quickly to clear the rebound from Karl Frost.

Just after the interval, Nathan Fisher rattled the upright for Durham and soon afterwards he was again unlucky as his shot hit the crossbar.

Compared to their opening two games, Durham were below par but manager Lee Collings will still be pleased that his side remain unbeaten in the UBL.

DURHAM CITY: Turns, Harrison, Capper, Dodds, Dixon, Laws, Fisher, Bell (Smith), Houlahan (Chapman), Cogden (Tait), English.

Referee: Mr S Rowntree.

Attendance: 187.