Adam Yates reports from the MTA…
A bumper 1,800 crowd saw Marine defeat a subdued Warrington Town 1-0 and record their 17th clean sheet of the season.
An eighth goal by winger, Finlay Sinclair-Smith was the difference which sent Marine on the cusp of mid table with being joint bottom in January now a distant memory.
Days earlier, Mariner manager Neil Young had shocked the clubs’ fanbase by announcing his impending departure after six successful years (remaining at the club as Director of Football).
The first half was a forgettable affair whereby no clear chances were had by either side due to solid defences and a lack of quality in the final third.
After the break, tensions ran high and a litter of yellow cards were brandished, mainly to the visitors. Jay Harris was lucky not to be given his marching orders after a late challenge seconds after getting a caution for dissent for his view on a similarly late tackle by Bailey Sloane.
With twenty minutes remaining, Sinclair-Smith entered the fray as a substitute and was quick to make his mark with a trademark goal cutting inside from the corner of the area and comfortably beating keeper Dan Atherton.
Golden opportunities for Owen Robinson, Bobby Grant and Harvey Gregson were left wanting that would have better represented Marine’s dominance had they been successfully converted.
Marine (4-5-1): Metcalfe, Butler, Sloane, Doyle (Wardle 65) Thomas; Whelan, Gregson, Fielding, Robinson, Scarisbrick (Sinclair Smith 65); Murphy (Grant 69)
Subs not used: Lusiama, Brown
Warrington Town (5-3-2)
Atherton; Harris, Makinson, James, Amaral, Hont; Clarke, O’Neill (Noone 78), Gill; Amis, Dixon
Subs not used – McDonald, Bennett, Green
Referee: Robert Claussen
Star man: Harvey Gregson
Attendance: 1,802