Time for us to wake up, says Nash

MARC Nash has challenged his Newcastle Blue Star side to "wake up” after a slow start to the new Northern League Division One campaign.

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The Star were a penalty shootout away from promotion to the Northern Premier League in May but fell the wrong side of the lottery of penalties against Blyth Town.

The impact of that defeat appears to have crept into the start of the new season with Nash's men taking just one point from their opening two games.

Having finished fourth in the league last season, the Scotswood outfit have been tipped for another strong campaign but after salvaging a last-gasp draw with Whitley Bay on the opening day of the season, the Star slipped to a 3-1 defeat to Shildon in midweek after early goals from Ciaran Banks and Luke Spalding took the game away from the home side.