Goals from Brad Hird and Andrew Nelson had the Colliers firmly in control by the hour mark, but Dan Lanning pulled one back for Blue Star before a controversial 95th minute own goal grabbed the visitors a point.

Easington manager Olly Hotchkiss made one change from Thursday’s win against Consett with Chris Trewick coming in for the unwell Reece Kenney.

Upon kick-off at a drizzly Welfare Park, it was a quiet start, with both sides enjoying good spells of possession.

Inside the opening 15 minutes, Tom Hunter’s low shot at the near post was deflected into the ‘keeper’s hands, and then James Fairley skewed a shot over the crossbar in the 24th minute.

Blue Star created a couple of half sights of goal in the opening half hour, with Lanning dragging a shot wide before another Lanning effort was blocked.

The deadlock was broken in the 33rd minute. Luke Pearn drove down the right wing and whipped a cross into the area where Hird glanced a header into the far corner.

Ahead, the Colliers looked comfortable, but the visitors almost equalised with five minutes of the first half to play when Lanning’s long range strike bounced back off the post.

Following the break, Easington’s lead was doubled with the first real chance of the first half. Ethan Ord rose highest to meet a corner, where his header was cleared off the line. Hird’s rebound was also blocked, but it proved third time lucky as Nelson fired home the third attempt.

Halfway through the second half, Newcastle Blue Star halved their deficit. A deep ball was kept in play and pulled across the face of goal where Lanning was sliding in with a simple finish.

Blue Star now had their heads up, and a good spell from them followed. However, the Colliers were defending well and Blue Star failed to create any notable chances.

The storm was soon weathered by the Colliers, and Blue Star’s threat seemed to slowly lessen.

However, in the fifth minute of additional time, the Colliers’ lead was heartbreakingly snatched from them. A clear foul on Ethan Ord wasn’t given, and a low ball was sent across the face of goal where Brad Forster could only turn it into his own net.

There was still another huge chance in the game though. James Fairley found himself through on goal for the Colliers 10 yards out, but he couldn’t find the target and the Colliers were forced to settle for a point.

Full-time: Easington Colliery 2-2 Newcastle Blue Star

Easington Colliery: Marrs, Barnett, Ord, Trewick, Taylor, Nelson, Pearn (Garside, 79′), Elliott (c) (Forster, 90+4′), Hird (Davison, 84′), Fairley, Hunter (Wright, 73′)

Unused sub: Eltringham

Newcastle Blue Star: Lister, Barclay, Dopson (Daley, 64′), Emmerson, MacLeod, Reid (c), Kidd (Patton, 64′), Dudgeon, Lanning, Heppell (Burke, 85′), Osiyemi (Joisce, 64′)

Unused sub: Lamb

Attendance: 194

Referee: Matthew Harris