Seventh Heaven for Mariners
Tom Murphy reports from the SFC Stadium
Hatrick hero Bobby Grant inspired Marine to cruise to a comfortable 7-1 victory in Lancashire.
A ruthless performance from the Mariners saw them tear apart a demoralised opponent in Bamber Bridge.
New man Grant was at the forefront of attacks in the first half, whilst claiming two for himself, he also assisted Freddie Sass to his first for Marine, before Chris Doyle tapped in a fourth.
The second half was just as good for the Mariners.
Freddie Sass picked up a second before Grant claimed the match ball after the 68th minute. Fin Sinclair Smith added salt to the wounds, scoring against his former club with 15 minutes of play remaining.
Heading into the game, 3rd place Marine were beginning to reignite their form that they had shown in the back end of last year, winning their last two games.
Bamber Bridge on the other hand, sat 13th having lost their last fixture against Guiseley. The home side were undefeated in seven matches heading into the encounter.
The home side were in fact the team who started the best. With a flurry of opportunities in the final third, they were unable to capitalise on the chances they were creating and they soon lived to regret it.
Against the run of play, Grant got his third in three games for Marine. A beautiful glancing ball found the number nine, who calmly placed the ball past Aidan Hunt.
Minutes later Freddie Sass latched onto a Grant cross and headed the visitors into a 2-0 lead. A dream start for Neil Young’s men.
A brilliant save from Hunt denied Owen Robinson and the Mariners a certain third. The midfielder saw his volley strongly palmed away from close range.
The home side struggled to gain any momentum and pose any threat. Instead Marine continued to dominate for the majority of the first half.
Grant grabbed his second of the game from a direct free kick on the edge of the area. His effort was deflected and rolled past Hunt who was left helpless between the posts.
Marine added a fifth just ten minutes into the second half, Freddie Sass collected his second of the match after he passed the ball into an empty net from a Harvey Gregson cross.
Whilst having the majority of possession, Young’s side proceeded to knock on the door of Bamber Bridge throughout the second half.
A Grant hat trick was the cherry on top for the away team coming 20 minutes before the full time whistle.
Sinclair Smith managed to find the net against his former team who later scored a consolation in additional time thanks to Mark Cullen.
With this rampage, Marine remain in third ahead of their fixture against Worksop next Saturday at the MTA.
Bamber Bridge: 1 Aidan Hunt, 2 Christopher Churchman , 3 Adam Dodd, 4 Jack Baxter (Billy Bould 45′), 5 Nathan Pond, 6 Lamine Toure, 7 Danny Edwards (Mark Cullen 60), 8 Michael Potts (Joseph Strawn 61), 9 Harry Scarborough, 10 Danny Forbes, 11 Jeff Adubofour
Unused Subs: 14 Mackenzie O’Neill, 15 Sky Sinclair.
Marine: 1 Luke Hutchinson, 2 Matty Waters, 3 Freddie Sass, 4 Liam Nolan (Sol Solomon 46), 5 Chris Doyle (Scott Butler 69), 6 Josh Wardle, 7 Finlay Sinclair-Smith (Manasse Mampala 76′), 8 Louis White , 9 Bobby Grant, 10 Owen Robinson, 11 Harvey Gregson
Unused Subs: 13 Richard Cowderoy, 15 Jonathan Spittle.
Attendance: 639
Marine Man of the Match: Bobby Grant
