Adam Yates reports from the MTA as the Mariners light the fuse against Chorley.
Neil Young’s Mariners were emphatic 3-0 victors over the Magpies on Bonfire Night including a brace from Enock Lusiama.
Four changes were made to the line up that faced Scarborough Athletic 10 days previously, including returns for Joe Mattock and Chris Doyle. There was also a late addition in the form of wide defender, Brad Grant on a short loan from Burnley.
The game was preceded by a touching Remembrance event including a perfectly demonstrated two minute silence despite the 5th November fireworks being launched around the local area and throughout the game.
As the match got underway, Marine pressed the opposition for long periods and with Fin Sinclair Smith in a more central role, there seemed to be something in the air (apart from smoke) that suggested the evening could be a positive one.
Owen Robinson and Kristi Montgomery linked up well and gave each other two great chances early on and before the clock had reached a quarter of an hour, Marine had taken five corners looking for an opener.
Chorley’s best chances of the game came in the middle of the first half. Ex-Mariner Mo Touray won a free kick on the edge of the box and his teammate, Craig Hewitt was unlucky not to convert it if not for the Marine defensive wall. Matty Corran was soon called up for three crucial saves tipping one over the bar and parrying a low shot by Dubem Eze onto his own post before claiming the loose ball. Eze had another chance moments later but Corran again thwarted his opportunity.
As half time approached, the deadlock was broken. Brad Grant whipped in a low cross from the edge of play and Lusiama connected past keeper and captain Matt Urwin with the forward making sure of his first Marine goal with a second touch in front of the Crosender End crowd.
At this point, all of Marine’s five league goals had come in the first half of play but this statistic was about to be consigned to the past. It should have occurred in the 55th minute when a Chorley defender clearly prevented the ball going in the net with his hand but referee, Darren Rogers waved it away to the vitriol of players and fans alike who had seen it plain as day. Moments later, the Mariners, and Lusiama had their second to put paid to the prior offence. Enock bundled in a cross not dealt with and he became the second player with a brace this season after Brad Holmes’s double against Buxton.
Five minutes later, Marine were awarded a penalty. Harvey Gregson was bundled over in the box and this time, the decision was given. Finlay Sinclair-Smith bravely stepped up, having missed his last against Peterborough Sports. The crowd got behind him and willed the ball into the net but they had nothing to worry about. Fin slammed it into the far corner, trademark style for his first of the season and the 1100 crowd gave him their loudest cheer of the night as the players celebrated.
The rest of the game was a mix of half chances, a slew of substitutions and well won fouls by a defensively sound Marine. The goalscorers were given ovations as they were replaced and a fifth clean sheet in ten games was another reason to be optimistic.
Next Up – An eagerly awaited trip down to Hereford where Marine will be looking for their first back to back wins to propel them up the table.
Marine: 1 Matthew Corran, 5 Chris Doyle (C) (4 Leigh Whelan 84′), 24 Bradley Grant, 8 Harvey Gregson (25 Charley Doyle 73′), 10 Owen Robinson, 22 Joe Mattock (6 James Butler 76′), 15 Enock Lusiama (14 Bradley Holmes 90′), 16 Kristi Montgomery, 17 Tom Atcheson, 20 Finlay Sinclair-Smith (7 Adam Thomas 86′), 23 James Brown
Chorley: 1 Matthew Urwin (C), 12 Jack Moore, 16 Adam Blakeman, 5 Harvey Smith, 4 Scott Wilson, 6 Joe Nolan, 8 Michael Calveley, 15 Durum Eze (7 Jack Rice 89′), 11 Mo Touray (33 Danny Ormerod 61′), 14 George Horbury, 23 Warren Clarke
Unused Subs: 18 Sam Bird, 2 Adam Henley, 10 Tom Carr.
Man of the Match – Enock Lusiama
Attendance – 1104
