A Feat Worthy Of Houdini Himself...

It's the 'excitement' of seeing a new team this Saturday as we face former FA Vase winners Newcastle Blue Star for the first time. Ever!

Thankfully Mossley didn't draw the short straw when it came to who was going where in order to fulfil the eight extra fixtures in the eastern section of the division, so this will be the first of two long trips to Seel Park this season for Tynesiders.

Newcastle are the first escapees of the new millennium from the Northern League, an achievement that has become not too dissimilar to that of those who risked life and limb climbing over and tunnelling under walls in Berlin during the Cold War; leaving behind the isolationist view beloved by their overseers in the pursuit of blue jeans and Smokie records. Or as they're Geordies, long sleeved shirts.

They were almost joined in the Unibond League North by Durham City but panicking as they reached Checkpoint Charlie, they fled back to the bosom of the regional division and being a big fish in a small pond.

You may have seen Blue Star on the back pages of the daily papers in pre-season as they were the opponents in Michael Owen's comeback game for Newcastle; a match made notable for the fact that he didn't get injured, an event that now appears to be rival passings by Halley's comet in terms of frequency .

After an indifferent opening to the campaign Newcastle have started to pick up the pace recently, putting five goals past the North Lancashire branch of Mossley Reserves (or Chorley as they're more commonly known) last Saturday and coming away from Garforth with a goalless draw in midweek.

Mossley will of course be hoping that they don't carry their cup form over to the league where we currently sit in 8th spot, one point and three places above our opponents to be.

If any Newcastle fans are reading this (you never know) and are coming to the game, I hope you have a good journey down. However, If any of their players are reading this, I hope the journey is a long and arduous one on board the smallest transport the coach company could find! Only joking.

Or am I...

Prediction: A hard fought battle that will end with the spoils shared.