Recap

Tom Murphy reports from Broadhurst Park…

A super second half performance from Marine saw them come away from Manchester with all three points. 

Two goals from Finlay Sinclair Smith and a first of the season for Owen Robinson were the difference in a very physical game. 

The away side had not beaten United away from home in the last 3 meetings, and this was only their second visit to Broadhurst Park. 

A resilient FC United stopped The Mariners from creating the chances they would’ve liked in the first half. 

A highlight for the away side came when Sol Solomon struck the bar inside 10 minutes. 

The home side, despite having fewer chances, still posed a threat to the defensive line and made it difficult for the likes of Chris Doyle and Scott Butler in the penalty area. 

Bobby Grant saw his first chance of the game strongly saved by keeper Pat Boyes. The forward was played in by Sinclair Smith along the left hand side before he saw his effort palmed behind. 

Just before the interval, left back Freddie Sass had a fantastic strike tipped over by Boyes and the visitors saw another chance go begging. 

A rejuvenated Marine side then came out for the second half in flying colours and left the home side shell shocked. 

Robinson opened the scoring after a scrappy piece of play in the penalty area. The midfielder smashed home his first of the season. 

Sinclair Smith then added two in quick succession just under 20 minutes later. 

For his first, the number 7 cut inside and sent a looping ball into the top right corner of the keeper’s net- quite frankly an unsaveable effort. 

Two minutes later, Sinclair Smith finished off a piercing counter attack started by Sol Solomon in calm fashion at the back post.

The win sends Marine into second place ahead of another away fixture against Ilkeston on Saturday.

FC United of Manchester: 1 Pat Boyes, 2 Charlie Oliver, 3 Guy Hall, 4 Paul Ennis (Lewis Gilroy 80′), 5 Dan Lafferty, 6 Jan Palinkas, 7 Michael Donohue 8 Luke Griffiths (Declan McLoughlin 68′), 9 Jordan Buckley, 10 Aaron Bennett, 11 Max Woodcock (Trevon Bryan 58′)

Unused Subs: 15 Bob Jammeh,  17 Charlie Munro

Marine: 1 Luke Hutchinson, 2 Matty Waters, 3 Freddie Sass (Joseph Ferguson 50′), 4 Harvey Gregson, 5 Chris Doyle (Cap), 6 Scott Butler, 7 Finlay Sinclair-Smith (Tom Pratt 79′), 8 Louis White, 9 Bobby Grant, 10 Sol Solomon, 11 Owen Robinson 

Unused Subs: 13 Richard Cowderoy, 14 Toby Jones, 15 Jonathan Spittle. 

Northern Premier League – Premier Division

Tuesday 30th January 2024 Kick-off: 7.45pm

Referee: Ashley Royston

Broadhurst Park

Marine Man of the Match: Owen Robinson