Adam Yates reports from the Marine Travel Arena as Marine and Darlington played out a no score draw in front of a 1800+ bumper crowd.

The Quakers were looking to stretch their unbeaten run to five matches whereas the Mariners were eager to avoid a consecutive 0-0 home result. Both teams were unaware that the following ninety minutes would maintain both sequences.

Neither manager would have been happy with the teams opening fifteen minute performance with unforced errors, poor decision making and lack of creativity.

Luke Hutchinson had to be quick to prevent two chances in quick succession. A Jack Maskell header was tipped over and a miscommunication at the back led to the Marine keeper being called into action to suddenly clear his lines.

Near the break Maskell again, was given a gift of a one on one with Hutchinson after a Marine mis-pass in midfield. The crowd held its breath but the superb Hutchinson held his ground and blocked it with his right boot.

Marine were the better side in the second half and for the second consecutive home game had the ball in the net without a goal to show for it. Adam Thomas had the opener disallowed for offside.

Both sides are currently lacking in the goals department with eight goals between them after 1500 minutes of football but it wasn’t for a lack of trying..

Shaker forward Will Flint had a strong shot parried near the end of regular time but both keepers ultimately maintained clean sheets, with Man of the Match Luke Hutchinson the busier of the two.

The attendance of 1832 was the largest regular season attendance for Marine since a Christmas fixture against Bootle in 2021.

The fans would have of course loved to have gone home having witnessed three points but from a defensive point of view, building on a second clean sheet could be pivotal in the weeks ahead due to a growing injury list including defenders Chris Doyle and Kacper Pasiek.

Next Up…

A FA cup tie against newly promoted NPL side Stockton Town could prove to be either a tricky test or a confidence boost next weekend up in the North East.

Coach seats available from the evening of Sunday 8th September.

Marine : Hutchinson; S Butler, J Butler, Waters, Mattock; Whelan (Sinclair-Smith 84′) , Griffiths; Holmes (McNally 90), Montgomery, Robinson (Goodwin 78′) ; Thomas.

Subs not used: Cowderoy, Murphy.

Darlington: Jameson; Barrow, Andoh, Lees, Rivers, Flint, Hatfield; Griffiths, Cornish (Sakeld 72′), Nelson (Main 61); Maskell.

Subs not used: Payne, Small, Taylor

Referee: Kavan Hurn

Star man: Luke Hutchinson (Marine,GK)

Attendance: 1,832