Marine ended the bank holiday weekend in the same fashion as they began it with another 2-0 win in front of an appreciative home crowd.

Goals from Willem Tomlinson and Finlay Sinclair Smith capped off a commanding, assured and defensively sound victory against a struggling Basford United side who have yet to win a game so far after 5 games in the NPL.

The crowd was already in a jubilant positive mood when it was revealed via the team news that Sol Solomon would make his first appearance in a Marine shirt this season after overcoming injury and his participation in the 2023 Island Games this summer. Ironically despite Marine finding the net via other methods this month, Sol was the first to nearly open the scoring after five minutes. Sinclair Smith provided a low ball into the area from wide and Sol stretched at the far post but his attempt was wide of the goal.

Sol’s inclusion as well as omissions of Liam Nolan and Jordan Lussey due to injury gave the hosts a new formation to adhere to and it allowed constant attack from full backs, Ferguson and Woodthorpe with Louis White operating as a central playmaker.

In the opening third of the game, there were half chances from Chris Doyle, Osei and Sinclair Smith but the opening goal came from fresh on loan signee Willem Tomlinson. A brilliant move by Marine initially is held up by a penalty shout. Tomlinson however continues play and smashes the ball into the Basford net.

The break came ten minutes later and Marine went into the dressing room having had the vast majority of possession and more importantly another vastly improved first half performance.

After the interval, Basford were forced to adapt to more attacking play rather than counter but they were unable to genuinely worry the Mariners back line, Goddard was called into action for the odd catch from a cross or clearance but when all is said and done, it was an easy outing for Felix due to his dutiful defensive line.

Solomon was substituted after 70 minutes of game time to rounds of applause from the MTA faithful and all Marine had to do was see out a tight but deserved win.

However, the win was assured near the final whistle when the impressive Sinclair-Smith rattled off a sublime strike outside of the box (which he tends to do) that thundered off the underside of the crossbar and over the line, leaving Basford keeper Kieran Preston no chance.

Next up – Marine enter the FA Cup this coming Saturday in the First Qualifying Round and we face familiar and strong NPL opponents Guiseley AFC on their home turf.

Marine Man of the Match – No.3 Nathan Woodthorpe

Attendance 942

Marine: 1 Felix Goddard, 2 Joseph Ferguson, 3 Nathan Woodthorpe, 4 Willem Tomlinson, 5 Chris Doyle, 6 Josh Wardle, 7 Finlay Sinclair-Smith, 8 Louis White, 9 Darius Osei (Will Russ 67′), 10 Sol Solomon (Jake Burton 68′), 11 Manasse Mampala (Charley Doyle 53).

Subs: 12 Jake Burton, 14 Will Russ, 15 Jonathan Spittle, 16 Michael Carberry, 17 Charley Doyle

Basford United: 1 Kieran Preston, 2 Matthew Bowman, 3 Dominic Roma, 4 Jean Claude Makiessi (Emmanuel llesanmi 77′), 5 Jaz Goundry 6 Peter Dearle, 7 Jack Thomas (Tyler Dacres 45′), 8 Matt Thornhill, 9 Remaye Campbell, 10 Ethan Cartwright, 11 Brodie Litchfield (Charlie Wakefield 64′)

Subs: 12 Joshiah Dyer, 14 Emmanuel llesanmi, 15 Charlie Wakefield, 16 Toby Ritzema, 18 Tyler Dacres

Northern Premier League – Premier Division

Monday 28th August 2023

Referee: Mark Reeves