Adam Yates reports from a soggy but celebratory Marine Travel Arena as a recurring storyline played out in front of a packed out crowd. Everton Under-18s faced another Quarter Final exit from the Liverpool Senior Cup at the hands of Marine for the second consecutive season. The Northern Premier League team asserted their dominance, securing a convincing 4-0 win against the youthful Everton side.

The game was delayed by 15 minutes due to unforeseen circumstances, Everton’s kit arriving late.

When the game did get underway, Marine showcased their determination, forcing Everton goalkeeper George Pickford into an impressive early double save. Pickford first palmed away a powerful strike from Louis White and then expertly smothered Bobby Grant’s follow-up attempt.

Despite Reece Welch’s successful block of a goal-bound effort from Harvey Gregson, and a deflected half-volley from Isaac Heath at the opposite end falling kindly into Luke Hutchinson’s arms, Marine’s relentless pressure prevailed.

Fin Sinclair-Smith turned provider, delivering a precise cross from the left that Gregson headed home. Within a minute, Owen Robinson added to Everton’s woes with a precise finish, extending Marine’s lead to 2-0.

In the 53rd minute, Marine all but sealed their victory as Sinclair-Smith once again delivered a superb cross, allowing experienced striker Bobby Grant to head home from close range. Moments later, Fin did it again but his cross looked more like it was heading in of its own accord. Grant ensured the ball made it into the net but the offside flag went up and Grant was apologetic towards Sinclair-Smith who was looking for a goal of his own…

He didn’t have to wait long to get it.

Sinclair-Smith capped off his stellar man of the match performance with his deserved goal. He curled a direct free-kick into the top corner from 20 yards, concluding the scoring and securing Marine’s 4-0 triumph over Everton Under-18s.

Marine have yet to discover their semi final opponents but fingers will be crossed for another pulsating home tie as the likes of Tranmere Rovers and Prescot Cables remain in the competition.

Next up however is a much more difficult task…
Marine travel a short distance to the current league leaders, Radcliffe whose slightly dipped form Neil Young’s men will be hoping to take advantage of.

MARINE: Hutchinson, Butler, Waters, Gregson (Nolan), Doyle (Ferguson), Wardle, Sinclair-Smith, White (Routledge), Grant (Pratt), Solomon (Happi-Fankam), Robinson.

EVERTON: Pickford, Samuels-Smith, van Schoor (Thomas), Moonan (Davis), Welch, Jones, Heath, Bates, Ebere, Armstrong (Foster), Boakye (Beaumont-Clark).

Attendance 1445
Man of the Match Finlay Sinclair-Smith