Match Report: Last minute goal for Northallerton denies mid-table Newcastle Blue Star

Newcastle Blue Star 1-2 Northallerton Town FC

Matty Kirokiro denies Newcastle Blue Star in a scrappy Northern League first division encounter.

Liam Wotherspoon gave Blue Star the lead in the 62nd minute before Northallerton’s equaliser via Harry Croft preceded a list ditch winner through Kirokiro in the 98th minute.

Blue Star returned to action after five postponed games in a row due to poor weather conditions. New Blue Star manager Paul Brayson took charge of his first home game on Saturday after losing his first game in charge away at Whitley Bay.

The first chance of the game came after seven minutes with the ball falling outside the box to Blue Star’s new signing Jack Wilson whose  volley flew out the stadium.

Blue Star captain Sean Reid missed a huge chance to open the scoring as he headed wide from Spencer Ashcroft’s corner on the 20 minute mark.

Northallerton’s first chance came in the 23rd minute with winger Kenzie Harker gliding away from three Blue Star defenders before getting his shot off from the edge of the box, forcing Dan Lister to tip the ball onto the post and out for a corner.

On the half hour mark Northallerton continued to press for the opener with defender Jonny Haase hitting an overhead kick into the arms of Lister.

Croft then wasted a huge chance to give the away side the lead as he headed the ball over the bar following a Northallerton free kick.

The referee waved away a huge penalty appeal by Blue Star in the 34th minute as Reid was pulled and seemingly tripped in the box just as he received the ball following a brilliant pass by Wilson.

James Coatsworth was the first player to get booked for Northallerton after a late challenge before Blue Star broke forward on the advantage,  Dan Lanning’s shot trickled wide.

Northallerton keeper Matty Calvert was stretchered off at the beginning of the second half following an awkward landing when he caught a cross. Defender Harvey Rudd went in goal for the rest of the game.

Blue Star’s second half domination finally paid off in the 62nd minute, super sub Wotherspoon tapped in the rebound following a saved Lanning shot, giving the Star a deserved lead.

Lanning’s influence on the game continued after his cut in was followed by a shot just over the bar in the 71st minute following a stunning Richie Slaughter pass.

Northallerton’s equaliser came on the 73rd minute as Croft met Luca Sartini’s free kick and side footed the ball calmly into the net.

With ten minutes left to go, Croft was booked for a poor challenge on Connor Macleod who could no longer continue following the foul.

Newcastle Blue Star hearts were broken in the 98th minute as Kirokiro tapped the ball into Lister’s net following a series of last ditch Blue Star blocks.

Newcastle Blue Star: Lister, Dopson, Cunningham, Macleod(Thompson 82′), Ashcroft, Heppell, Slaughter, Wilson(Wotherspoon 56′), Reid(C), Lanning, Coulthard(Armstrong 76′)