Tom Wardle Reports as valiant Marine fall to defeat against Matlock…
Marine lose twice in four days after falling on the wrong side of a 3-2 score line away at Matlock Town last night. Louis Britton scored a goal in either half for the Mariners, though Reece Styche, Alex Byrne and Karl Demidh were all on target to award the Gladiators maximum points. Marine remain in seventh place in the Northern Premier League table on goal difference.
Neil Young made two changes from Saturday’s defeat to Nantwich Town. Britton and Akiel Raffie started ahead of Charley Doyle and Lucas Weir.
The home side had a great opportunity to go ahead when Archie White was found unmarked inside the box, but he dragged his shot wide.
On 15 minutes the Mariners took the lead. A mistake at the back was pounced on by Britton who took his time before firing the ball into the net.
Matlock equalised soon later. The ball set up nicely on the edge of the box for Styche to hit and he did so into the bottom corner.
Bayleigh Passant was then forced into two excellent saves to keep the game level. His first came to block White’s effort who found himself in a similar situation to earlier. Passant then clawed away Byrne’s free kick which was approaching the top corner.
In between Passant’s saves, the visitors had strong shouts for a penalty when Sol Solomon looked to be tripped to the floor, though play continued.
At the other end, the Gladiators were able to turn the game around on the cusp of half time. John Johnston’s pass was struck first time by Byrne that slowly trickled into the far corner.
Britton pulled Marine level four minutes following the break. Ben Hodkinson’s dangerous corner dropped at the feet of the striker who was in the right place once more to convert.
He then had the chance to claim his second hattrick in as many weeks, though Saul Deeney made a firm stop one-on-one.
Shortly after the hour mark, Matlock restored their lead. White’s delivery found Demidh and without challenge, slotted the ball past Passant.
The Mariners huffed and puffed to try and claim something from the game. However their only real chance after the home side’s goal came in the fifth minute of stoppage time. Solomon connected firmly with a shot on the edge of the box which Deeney did well to hold onto.
Marine will hope for better fortune on Friday when they travel to Marske United for a 3pm kick off.
Matlock Town: Deeney, Sharman, McNicholas, White, Yates ©, Bradley, Byrne, Cartwright, Styche (Wakefield 90), Demidh (Wells 77), Johnston.
Unused Substitutes: Abbott, Duhameau, Pollard.
Marine: Passant, Johnson, Bunney, Howarth, Wardle ©, Spittle (Hayde 52), Hodkinson (Solomon-Davies 52), Lussey, Britton, Solomon, Raffie (Hardy 66).
Unused Substitutes: Clark, Weir.
Attendance: 607.
