Adam Yates reports from an ecstatic Marine Travel Arena as Neil Young’s men defeated Southport to record their sixth win in a month.
A sole goal provided by Josh Wardle was the difference that puts Marine level on 44 points with the Sandgrounders and places us within touching distance of guaranteed safety for remaining in the National League North next season.
The evening began, however, with an unwanted injury…
Chris Doyle, who has been on fire in front of goal of late, pulled up with a suspected hamstring and was replaced within the opening minutes by teammate Josh Wardle.
The first half, whilst end to end, didn’t result in many golden opportunities for either team until the 38th minute where the ground, both home and away fans were perplexed by the decision, referee Lewis Dawson and his linesman was about to make…
James Butler, from the middle of the box, launched a volley into the middle of the Southport net after a prior parry from a James Brown missile but the goal was quickly chalked off, apparently due to interference by captain, Bobby Grant. The crowd was furious (aside from the 300+ visiting Southport fans) and Marine had to go into the changing rooms level despite the confusion of why their goal was void.
The Mariners average goal (at home) is scored on the 50 minute mark. Josh Wardle was three minutes late to that statistic but got the opener…
Josh took advantage of a penalty area pinball melee and fired home, with his boot no less for his first since rejoining the club.
Both Marine and Southport found woodwork in their attempts to find a second and equaliser respectively. Sonny Hilton, who was bright for the Port all game was closest as his shot ricocheted across the face of goal whereas Jack Hazlehurst’s post chance headed to the corner flag.
Aside from those two chances, Marine executed the same management of the previous three 1-0 clean sheet games they had won recently and with smart substitutions, time strategy and hard pressing frustrated Southport all the way to the final whistle.
Man of the match chosen by fans – joint winners
Leigh Whelan and Josh Wardle
Attendance: 1,634
Marine (4-5-1): Wogan; Brown, Butler, Doyle (Wardle 6), Shaw (Lusiama 90); Whelan, Gregson (Thomas 90), Hazlehurst, Murphy, Sinclair-Smith (Robinson 79); Grant (Scarisbrick 65)
Subs not used: None
Southport (4-4-2): Renshaw; Lunt, Knight-Percival (Evans 81), Lloyd, Morgan (Burgess 68); Carver (Proctor 65), Quansah, Moore, Hilton, Minihan, Pike (Philliskirk 87)
Subs not used: Pickles