Marine 3-3 (3-2 pens) Burscough
Liverpool Senior Cup Tuesday 9th December 2025
Tom Murphy reports from the MTA…
A thriller at the MTA between Marine and Burscough resulted in the home side going through to the next round of the Liverpool Senior Cup.
After 90 minutes of football with six goals scored neither team could get the better of the other resulting in penalties and more tension during a windy night in Crosby.
From minute one the game was full of intensity with both teams trying to find a breakthrough early on.
Despite being three leagues below, Burscough were certainly a match for Bobby Grant’s men and were unfortunate to go behind after creating chances themselves.
Academy player James Potter was in the right place at the right time to tap home the opener in the 32nd minute.
A dramatic twist happened seconds later with Burscough dramatically hitting Marine for not one but two quick fire goals inside eight minutes.
The first of these came after brilliant work from Christian Mokoko, who was a threat all game, his cross spinning off the helpless Declan Drysdale and into the net.
Jay Salko later added a second for the away team after a mixup at the back from Marine.
The slightest of touches was enough for the forward to see his header roll over the line to give his side the lead.
Marine needed a response and just before the break they found one thanks to a first goal for Jolley in a white shirt.
After brilliant linkup play between him and Finlay Sinclair Smith, the striker placed his strike in the bottom left corner leaving the keeper no chance.
The second half gave us more goals as both teams fought for a place in the next round of the Senior Cup.
Burscough were able to retake the lead though Salko again, leaving the Marine crowd stunned once more.
Grant‘s side grew more desperate as the second half progressed and were gifted an equaliser in the 71st minute thanks to an own goal from Kian Bell.
With nothing to separate the two teams, penalties awaited to decide the outcome of the encounter.
Two high quality saves from Jack McIntyre and penalties scored by Adam Thomas, Declan Drysdale and Potter meant it was the Mariners who were victorious after almost two hours of entertainment on Merseyside.
Marine: Jack McIntyre, Adam Anson, Adam Thomas, Harry Huby (Finley Dyer 62), Josh Wardle ©, Declan Drysdale, Finlay Sinclair-Smith (Jack Wilson-Jones 80), Jai Curran-Nicholls (Alfie Flood 80), Lewis Bell (Noah Roberts 52), Charlie Jolley (Anthony Seagraves 83), James Potter.
Unused subs: None
Burscough: Goodness Gospel-Eze, William Lawson, Stephen Rigby, Anthony Walsh (Sam Turner 46), Kian Bell ©, Ethan Devine, Cristian Mukoko, Harry Johnson, Callum Laird (Adam Palfrey 77), William McCarthy (Tom Peterson 59), Jay Salko (Matty Hamilton 67).
Unused subs: Liam Bonyor
Referee: Francis Sibley
Assistants: George Corrie, Samuel Worrall
Attendance: 265