Recap

Adam Yates reports from Dales Lane as Marine suffered defeat with injuries and a red card adding salt to the wound.

The fans were buoyed pre game by the news that Harvey Gregson and club captain Bobby Grant were named as substitutes. Grant had not yet featured in a regular season game due to a knee injury sustained during a friendly. Chris Doyle was not in the squad having played through some hip pain in the Leamington draw three days prior.

The opening twenty minutes was largely Olympic possession as the Mariners dealt with set pieces and counter attacks down the wings from the ‘Pics. Dempsey Arlott-John and Roddy McGlinchey were constant threats throughout the game and it was McGlinchey who broke the deadlock. A free kick was not dealt with and Roddy was in the right place at the right time to fire past Luke Hutchinson from inside the box.

Marine found solid chances hard to come by but there were glimpses of opportunity. Before the end of the first half, both Joe Mattock and Alex McNally had solid headers and Kristi Montgomery had a long range shot go high and wide.

The second half saw Rushall come out of the traps looking to double their lead and it nearly happened in the 50th minute. Two goal line clearances were required with Hutchinson and James Butler called into action to protect the net. Meanwhile, Neil Young and his backroom staff began to assemble a bumper four consecutive substitutions in an attempt to change momentum. Among the replacements were Owen Robinson, Scott Butler, Harvey Gregson and Bobby Grant with the latter getting an extra vocal reception from the travelling Mariners fans.

On the hour mark, the Pics found their second goal and unfortunately it was from another set piece, this time in the form of a corner. Samuel McLintock whipped the ball in and it found its way at the back post. A brief scramble resulted in Hutchinson’s line being breached and captain Nathan Cameron ran away celebrating taking credit with the defence considering that one of their own may have had the last touch.

Jack Goodwin was introduced as the final Marine sub in replace of Adam Thomas but after the second goal, a series of unfortunate events led to Marine effectively playing the game out with 8 fully fit players…

Bobby Grant was in clear discomfort and began to struggle to move around the field with ease. The bench was already fully utilised and unable to assist but Grant was determined to see the game through and despite obvious cause for concern still managed to successfully rise to knock on balls and give the Mariners optimism. Bobby even had a great chance for a goal with a close range header but he was unable to generate the required power for obvious reasons.

Harvey Gregson also felt a reoccurrence of his hamstring and was unable to continue for risk of making things worse and he made the referee aware that he would be leaving the field with no replacement.

Whilst Neil Young’s men threw everything at the penalty box, they continued to suffer from vicious counter attacks and during injury time, it led to a dismissal. Scott Butler had received a caution 20 mins earlier shortly after coming on the field for a late foul and the official produced another for the same offence near the final whistle, despite the second looking much more well timed. That left the visitors playing the final moments with nine on the field but with Grant’s defensive role being partly covered by his teammates.

The 2-0 defeat places the Mariners back in the bottom four with a highly anticipated home league game against Darlington this Saturday followed by a tricky FA cup tie back up the North East at Stockton Town.

Rushall Olympic Team

Paul White, Jaden Charles, Mason Rees, Ashton Offler, Nathan Cameron (c), Samuel McLintock, Dempsey Arlott-John, Kornell McDonald, Roddy McGlinchey, Terrell Pennant, Luke Benbow.

Marine Team

Luke Hutchinson, Matty Waters, Leigh Whelan, James Butler, Adam Thomas, Brad Holmes, Alex McNally, Kristi Montgomery, Regan Griffiths, Finlay Sinclair-Smith, Joe Mattock.

Subs Used – Scott Butler, Harvey Gregson, Bobby Grant and Owen Robinson 58′ Jack Goodwin 68’