Marine enjoyed a resounding home win over NPL Division One West side Bootle in their latest pre-season fixture on Friday evening.
The Bucks, who completed the league double over the Mariners last season, were a shadow of their former selves and posed little threat throughout the contest.
Marine began brightly as Mo Touray tricked his way into the box but his attempted cut-back was smuggled clear by the visitors.
Sean Smith and Lucas Weir then combined effectively on the Mariners’ left, Weir squaring to Touray who fired just over the bar from 20 yards.
The Whites came close to breaking the deadlock as a foul on Touray allowed Luke Clark to strike a free-kick which skimmed off a Bootle defender’s head and onto the crossbar, the ball falling behind for a corner which came to nought.
However, the Mariners found their opening goal just after the half-hour mark as Trialist (9) held the ball up well, sending the Bucks’ defenders for a burton, before finding the onrushing Smith who struck a right-footed shot from 22 yards which curved away from ‘keeper Roberts and into the top corner.
Smith, who has impressed at left-back throughout pre-season, fired into the side-netting from the edge of the box as the first half drew to a close.
The second period saw much more of the same, with Neil Young’s side well on top. Trialist (11) turned neatly on the edge of the Bootle area but shot high and wide.
Trialist (9) showed his quality, turning on the proverbial sixpence but being denied by Roberts’ block, Touray firing the rebound into the side-netting from an acute angle.
The Mariners doubled their lead on 54 minutes, Trialist (9) again leaving the visiting defence in his wake before steering a cool finish into the bottom corner past Roberts’ despairing dive.
Three minutes later and Marine had their third of the evening, Weir striding through the midfield before releasing Touray with the outside of his left boot, the Welsh striker taking the ball across the box before firing home from ten yards.
The visitors’ first chance of any note arrived on the hour mark, Peterson’s shot on the turn being comfortably fielded by Bayleigh Passant to his left.
On 65 minutes the Mariners made it four, Weir providing a fine low finish from the edge of the box.
The beleaguered Bucks were then caught in possession at the back five minutes later, as substitute Trialist (14) pinched possession before beating Roberts with a composed finish.
It was almost six in the closing stages as Alex Doyle this time won possession in midfield before slipping the ball through to Trialist (14), Roberts denying the substitute with a fine block. The same player was then denied by the upright with two minutes remaining, his low drive from the right of the area beating Roberts but not the frame of the goal.
All in all a very comfortable and impressive victory for the Mariners, whose next friendly of pre-season is at Runcorn Linnets on Tuesday evening.
Marine: Passant (Mendes 73), Smith, Trialist, Wardle, Weir, C Doyle (Harris), A Doyle, Trialist (Adams 60), Touray, Trialist (Trialist 65), Clark.
Goals: Smith (31), Trialist (54), Touray (57), Weir (65), Trialist (70).
Attendance: 474
