MARINE DENIED LATE COMEBACK AS CHESTER HOLD OUT FOR THE VICTORY.
Max Ledson reports from a very foggy Marine Travel Arena as Marine had a late comeback foiled by the Seals as Chester held on to a 3-2 victory.
Chester dominated large parts of the game until Enock Lusiama came off the bench in the 65th minute. However, unfortunately for the Mariners, it was too little too late.
The game started scrappily with neither side able to take a foothold for the opening minutes.
Both sides created little by way of chances, with the odd set piece for either side looking like the most likely cause for an opener.
However, Chester didn’t have to wait long after a free kick was floated in by Declan Weeks in the 11th minute, Dylan Mottley-Henry was able to find the net from an unchallenged header.
After conceding Marine looked the most likely to score. The biggest chance came after the ball fell kindly to Josh Wardle who struck it well from close range. Elyh Harrison did well to push it away to safety.
Despite good chances for Marine, it was Chester who doubled their lead against the run of play in the 30th minute. After a good attack down the left the ball found its way to Tom Peers who laid it off to Iwan Murray just inside the penalty area, who was able to find the top corner with a good finish.
Chester were able to see out the half comfortably, with the Mariners heading into the break two down.
The Seals started the second half as they ended the first, dominating the ball and creating the better chances. They were able to add another to their tally in the 58th minute. The ball fell to defender, Harrison Burke after a corner, who was able to lift the ball over Matty Corran in the Marine goal.
The 66th minute saw Enock Lusiama come on for Marine and it only took him four minutes to find the first of the day for the Mariners. Good play down the right flank by Kallan Murphy as he delivered a great cross towards the Spaniard, who couldn’t miss with the header.
The goal sparked Marine into life as they subjected the Chester defence to attack after attack as they looked for a way back into the game.
Lusiama got his brace in the 88th minute after more great play by Murphy chasing down a long ball. He was able to find Lusiama in the box with his back to goal, he turned his man well and found the bottom corner with his left foot.
The Mariners showed great fight in the latter stages of the game but unfortunately for them it was too little too late and Chester were able to hold on to the three points.
Marine: 1 Matthew Corran, 4 Leigh Whelan, 21 Josh Wardle (C), 8 Harvey Gregson, 20 Finlay Sinclair-Smith (Adam Thomas 81′), 22 Joe Mattock (Matty Waters 65′), 17 Tom Atcheson (James Butler 77′), 11 Kallan Murphy, 25 Charley Doyle (Enock Lusiama 66′), 10 Owen Robinson (Callum Agius 72′), 23 James Brown
Subs: 15 Enock Lusiama, 3 Matty Waters, 6 James Butler, 19 Callum Agius, 7 Adam Thomas
Attendance: 2,149