Max Ledson reports from Bridlington…
Marine produced late drama on the coast as they snatched all three points with a stoppage time winner against Scarborough Athletic..
The game started very flatly with both sides struggling to create any real chances. The home side saw more of the ball but failed to break down a strong Marine defence.
The Mariners had the best chance of the half right at the end when Matty McDonald won the ball back high up the pitch but his effort on goal went just wide of the post.
After a tightly contested first half with few clear chances for either side, Marine took the lead just after the hour mark. A well-worked move down the right saw Bailey Marsden deliver an inviting cross into the box, where George Newell rose highest to glance a precise header beyond the Scarborough goalkeeper and give the visitors a 1–0 advantage in the 61st minute.
Scarborough pushed hard for an equaliser as the game entered its closing stages, and their persistence paid off in the 87th minute. A powerful effort was parried brilliantly by Fraser Barnsley, but Stephen Walker was quickest to react, tucking home the rebound to bring the hosts level and seemingly rescuing a point.
However, there was one final twist in stoppage time. On his debut off the bench, Anjola Popoola slipped a clever pass through the Scarborough back line to find McDonald, who kept his composure and rifled a stunning finish into the top corner to seal a dramatic 2–1 victory for Marine.
Scarborough Athletic: Whitley, Waldron, A. Brown, Weledji, Thornton ©, Maloney (Duckworth 67), Green, Allan (Myers 67), Walker, Tear, Colville.
Unused subs: Chapman, Marshall.
Marine: Barnsley, Samuels-Smith, Wardle, Drysdale, Anson (Brown 84’), Gregson, Marsden, McDonald, Hunter (Popoola 62’), Fielding (Tunstall 65’), Newell (Thomas 84’).
Unused subs: Sinclair-Smith, Roberts, McIntyre.
Referee: Liam Smith
Attendance: 835.