Adam Yates reports from the Marine Travel Arena as Neil Young’s black and white army continued their impressive spring form with a fourth successive victory and dealt Peterborough a 2-1 defeat on Non League Day.
The Turbines were handed a blow before a ball had been kicked as captain Dan Jarvis pulled up in the warm up and was replaced by Mark Jones on the team sheet.
Peterborough were the first to get off the mark after thirteen minutes when Michael Gash was given a gift at the far post following a Michael Gyasi corner.
The opener woke Marine up in front of a 1500 plus crowd. A free kick was won near the corner flag which Jack Hazlehurst laid perfectly at the head of defender, James Butler, for his first Mariners goal and a crucial equaliser.
Not to be outdone by his counterparts, Mariner Josh Wardle was the third and final defender on the score sheet after the break. Kallan Murphy hit the crossbar which then fell to Jack Hazlehurst who laid it to Bobby Grant. Grant’s shot was partly blocked but Wardle was there in the 6yd box to get his 2nd of the season since rejoining the club.
A late challenge in front of the dugout prompted a flurry of cautions for both sides near the final whistle and resulted in Marine’s assistant coach, Fraser Ablett being sent to the changing room by referee Kavan Hurn a few minutes early after a red card.
With no more midweeks on the schedule, Marine’s next game is again, at home to Alfreton Town, who now sit below the Mariners in the National League North league table.
Marine (4-5-1): Wogan; Brown, Wardle, Butler, Shaw; Whelan, Gregson, Hazlehurst (Thomas 93), Murphy (Fielding 81), Sinclair Smith (Robinson 87); Grant (Lusiama 90)
Sub not used: Sloane
Peterborough Sports (5-3-2): Pardington; Kamara, Gash, Putman, Jones, Alban-Jones; Straughan-Brown, Felix (Mukuna 89), Gyasi; Bondswell (Fryatt 68), Atherton (Winters 86)
Subs not used – Challinor, Steele
Referee: Kavan Hurn
Star man: James Butler
Attendance: 1,592