Adam Yates reports from the MTA…
It was a game of (insert cliche here) as Marine produced an unlikely two goal comeback to draw with Hereford and get one point closer to surviving their maiden season in the National League North.
It was a first half to forget for Marine as two controversial decisions went in Hereford’s favour.
The Bulls went ahead after 22 minutes as Alex Babos launched a ball into the box, which missed his teammate Yusifu Ceesay but landed at the feet of Remaye Campbell who simply had to beat Andrew Wogan for the opener.
After the half hour mark came the confusion of goal number two for the visitors…
Babos, again, was the creator but the Marine defence was confident of an offside decision. To add to that, Wogan anticipated a touch from the attack but they let the ball bounce which then looped over Wogan and the ball trickled in the net. The Crosby side remonstrated at length with the linesman and referee, Jonathan Maskrey to no avail.
Just on the stroke of half time came a disallowed goal for Marine. The goal line was awash with both sets of players and Chris Doyle found his head meet the ball for what would have been his fifth goal in as many weeks but once the celebrations began, the officials spoiled the party with an offside.
Marine came out the traps after the break and got the near 2,000 crowd whipped up in a frenzy when Chris Doyle finally got the goal he deserved with a trademark header which looped over Theo Richardson. Marine had just under half an hour to find a second…
Then came the equaliser via top goalscorer Finlay Sinclair-Smith who had worked his socks off all afternoon. Fin entered the box and his foot stroked the ball from close range between keeper and defender to make it 2-2 and allowed Marine to manage the rest of the game effectively for a solid point restricting Hereford to half chances.
The most notable takeaway from the game was the attitude in which Marine were able to keep their heads up and get a result from the game. In fact it was the first point they had achieved from a losing half time position which may be critical to their final 10 games of the season.
Marine (4-5-1): Wogan; Brown (Robinson 56), Butler, Doyle, Shaw; Fielding (Thomas 45), Gregson, Hazlehurst, Scarisbrick, Sinclair-Smith (Lusiama 87); Grant
Subs not used: Sloane, Wardle.
Hereford (4-4-2)
Richardson; Skinner (Hudson 90), Hawkins, Preston, Andoh; Glynn (D’Ath 60), Mitchell (Cowley 78), White (Williams 86), Babos; Chesay, R.Campbell
Subs not used – T.Campbell
Referee: Jonathan Maskrey
Star man: Chris Doyle
Attendance: 1,913