Adam Yates reports from the Marine Travel Arena as Neil Young’s men were victors of a bottom of the table clash in Merseyside with a deserved workmanlike performance.
Both teams were currently exhibiting poor form with only three league wins between them since October 5th. However, Marine’s goal output had slowly been on the rise in recent games and some of the fanbase saw this as a pivotal matchup measuring the Mariners against similar teams in danger.
Whilst the game was never at risk of postponement, Storm Bert had claimed four postponements in the National League North alone as well as providing additional travel challenges for players such as Kristi Montgomery who lives outside the North West.
Upon kickoff, the momentum of the first half was almost entirely that of the Mariners.
Fin Sinclair-Smith started the action with an outstanding volley. A clearance landed outside the box, found the winger who blasted it on target and Marketman keeper Danny Cullum was forced to tip it over.
Chris Doyle received treatment early in the game after getting an arm to the face. The Captain was later replaced at half time as the injury was revealed to be a suspected broken nose that needed hospital attention.
Enock Lusiama was eager to entertain the Crosby crowd and he should have been rewarded for his efforts. A surprise long ranger swerved in the air hitting the post and shortly afterwards, a self created overhead kick was saved comfortably.
In the 25th minute, the deadlock was deservedly broken. Sinclair-Smith whipped in a cross that found the keeper but Cullum fluffed the capture, behind him at the far post was defender James Brown who chested in for the lead.
The Marketmen started the better of the two sides after the break but their chances were mainly those born from unforced Marine errors as the absence of Doyle was starting to show. Seth Chambers and Luke Ingram had the opportunity to equalise but their shots went wide and hit the crossbar respectively.
19 months has passed since Marine last lost at home after scoring first (Guiseley, March 23) and that statistic was extended by a second goal for the hosts.
Kristi Montgomery’s brilliant forward pass gave Sinclair-Smith only the keeper to beat and he did so with aplomb to seal a win, capturing his second goal of the season and his first from open play.
Next Up – Marine have their final evening home game of 2024 with a visit from Spennymoor Town. With Marine rising up the form table, can they do the same in the table that matters?
Marine (5-4-1): Curran; Brown, Atcheson, Doyle (Robinson 46), Mattock, Brad Grant (Waters 65); Montgomery, Gregson, Thomas (Agius 83), Sinclair-Smith (J. Butler 90); Lusiama (Holmes 90)
Subs not used: None
Needham Market (5-4-1) Cullum; Smith, Hammond (Lay 86), K.Morphew, D.Morphew (Fraser 89), Tomlinson (Dye 55); Ingram, Allen, Hunter, Lambe (Mills 68); Chambers.
Subs not used – McGrath
Referee: Harry Warner
Star man: Finlay Sinclair-Smith
Attendance: 1087
