Tom Murphy reports from the Deva Stadium…
Marine’s final away trip of the season ended in defeat on the road to Chester.
Goals from Harrison Burke and Iwan Murray cancelled out Finlay Sinclair Smith’s strike late on in the second half.
After applying early pressure, it was the hosts who found the back of the net with just 10 minutes played.
A super ball was delivered into the box from a corner which found the head of Burke who nodded home the opener inside the six yard area.
Marine almost instantly responded after Whelan whipped a corner into the box.
His delivery found the head of Andy Scarisbrick whose effort smashed the crossbar and was cleared by Chester.
After the quick start both teams seemed to take their foot off the gas which resulted in few chances during the remainder of the half.
The second period started scrappily with neither side able to create anything in the final third.
Marine’s opening chance of the half fell when Sinclair Smith came close from his free kick, the number 20 seeing his strike glance over the bar and sit on the top of the net.
Chester were the team to break the lull of action when they added a second in the 69th minute.
Murray chased down a cleared Marine free kick and took the ball away from James Brown before chipping it over a helpless Max Metcalfe in the Marine net.
Neil Young’s side reacted appropriately to going two behind as Sinclair Smith pulled one back minutes later.
Sam Fielding sent one into the box from his free kick, it fell to Sinclair Smith who smashed home from close range with just over 10 minutes left.
Despite reducing the arrears it proved to be too little too late on the final away game of the season and Marine fell to defeat away in front of a great away following at promotion chasing Chester.
Marine starting XI: Metcalfe, Brown, Wardle, Butler, Shaw (Thomas 46’), Whelan (Fielding 75’), Scarisbrick (Doyle 83’), Gregson, Sinclair Smith, Murphy, Grant (Robinson 72’).
Unused sub: Sloane
Referee: Callum Jones
Attendance: 3,173