LANCASTER CITY 1-3 MARINE – MATCH REPORT

Tom Wardle Reports as Marine breeze aside ten-man Lancaster

Marine made it six unbeaten in all competitions when they fought off Lancaster City 3-1 at Giant Axe this afternoon. Sol Solomon scored two and missed a penalty, with Connor Evans sealing the home side’s fate in the dying stages. Lancaster went down to ten men just after half time when Jamie Mellen was awarded a second yellow card, though they did pull one back to make it 2-1 through Dale Whitham. However, the Mariners always looked in control and remain in fourth in the Northern Premier League.

Neil Young made two changes from his side’s goalless draw with Hyde United last Saturday. Jordan Lussey and Lucas Weir stepped in for James Barrigan and Hayden Campbell.

Marine took the lead inside six minutes. Lussey’s perfectly weighted cross was headed at goal by Weir. Sam Waller scrambled the ball away, but only as far as Solomon who pounced on the loose ball to put his team ahead.

Last week’s man of the match Josh Solomon-Davies allowed Mo Touray to create a chance for himself. The forward swivelled on the turn and fired a strike from a tight angle that Waller had to tip over the bar.

After a timid first 45 by the hosts who had won four league games on the spin heading into the game, they reacted by bringing on Andrew Teague to add a physical edge to their play.

Although a minute of madness by Mellen made their task even tougher. He collected two yellow cards in the space of 60 seconds to put the Dolly Blues a man down.

It went from bad to worse for Lancaster as Solomon doubled his tally minutes later. The Jerseyman whipped the ball directly from a corner that evaded everyone in the box to find the back of the net.

The hosts kept themselves in the game as Whitham broke the Mariners’ five clean sheet streak.

A low cross from the left wing fell to the unmarked forward who slotted in from six yards out.

With ten minutes to go, Solomon was brought to the ground to win his side a penalty. The striker took it himself in search of the match ball but fired the spot kick over the bar.

Andy Scarisbrick was inches away from adding a third for the visitors. The ball set up nicely for him to strike, though his attempt cannoned off the crossbar.

Marine did assert their dominance with seconds to spare. Substitute Evans had time to compose his shot inside the box, which he directed through the legs of Waller, capping off an excellent afternoon for the Mariners.

Marine return home next Saturday, when they welcome Guiseley for a 3pm kick off.

Lancaster City: Waller, Bailey (Sloan 60), Brownhill, Allington (Teague 45), Toure, Mellen (OFF 51), Carroll, Cowperthwaite ©, Norris, Whitham, Evangelinos (Lawson 76).

Unused Substitutes: Anderson, Carsley.

Marine: Passant, Solomon-Davies (Clark 87), Smith, Lussey (A.Doyle 66), Wardle ©, Spittle, Weir, C.Doyle, Touray (Evans 71), Solomon, Scarisbrick.

Unused Substitutes: Campbell, Barrigan.

Attendance: 318

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