Blue Star shoot down the Stan to seal passage into next round

NEWCASTLE Blue Star manager Marc Nash could not hide his pride after his side edged out Northern Premier League East Division club Heaton Stannington to reach the FA Cup second qualifying round.

- Mark Carruthers

After a tight, nervy and largely uneventful contest, it was Blue Star substitute Leon Burke who made the difference as he came off the bench to grab the winning goal with just two minutes left on the clock.

There were joyous scenes when the fulltime whistle was blown as Nash and his squad celebrated with their supporters - and the Blue Star boss admitted he was delighted to see the game go his way after yet another big occasion at the KD Stadium.

He told The Sunday Sun: "It was always going to come down to a moment and they've had a good opportunity to open the scoring and get a win - but they haven't taken it.

"I always felt we would get a chance and Leon has missed a good chance just seconds earlier but he has taken that one brilliantly.

"It was that moment, I don't think any of us wanted a replay so it's a relief we got the win.