Recap

Adam Yates reports from the Marine Travel Arena as a ruthless and clinical performance by Hyde United saw them run out deserved 4-1 winners over Marine to overtake them in the league and enter the playoffs spots.

The Tigers were forced into a squad addition hours before the game as keeper Sam Waller was recalled to Burnley which resulted in Jordan Eastham heading straight in the Reds lineup loaned from Blackburn Rovers. Eastman would turn out to be pivotal to Hyde’s defence throughout the afternoon.

Marine’s own starting eleven was hastily altered as defender Jalil Saadi came down with illness in the warmup and was replaced by Harvey Gregson.

Marine’s day got worse 14 minutes in with the first of Hyde’s four goals. Josh Doherty from the edge of the box, with his inside boot hit the ball into the corner of the net that most keepers would have struggled to prevent.

Twenty mins later, the Tigers were three nil to the good. First up, a cross by Harry Ditchfield reached star man Jack Redshaw who hit it first time to Luke Hutchinson’s near post to double the lead.

Redshaw wasn’t done however the Hyde forward found himself with space to spare and with Marine defenders backing away he doubled his tally for the day only 90 seconds later with a mazy run that took him to the exact spot of his first strike.

Marine were much improved second half as they were forced to take chances but exposed at the back. Manager Neil Young made a bold move to position centre half Chris Doyle as a forward focal point and it seemed to help claim possession and half chances but it took the introduction of former Hyde striker, Manasse Mampala to rouse themselves and the 1300+ Crosby crowd.

Mampala was on the pitch only for mere seconds when he poached Marine a goal from a few yards out after a corner was scrambled in front of the Hyde goal line.

Manasse nearly got a second which could have led to a unlikely Marine fightback but a volley from the middle of the area was straight at Eastman who did amazingly well to tip it over the bar.

It was another Marine attack which led to the fourth and final Tigers goal when Hyde cleared their lines and ran a superb breakaway counter attack. Redshaw passed to his right and substitute Matthew Fearnley peeled into the edge of the box and one on one with Hutchinson slotted the chance and dashed any slim hopes of a fightback.

Marine take a break from league action and aim to repeat the cup exploits of last season.

We defend the Liverpool Senior Cup and first up is Widnes FC at the Marine Travel Arena this Tuesday night at 7:45pm

Reduced ticket prices for this one and we hope to see you there!

Marine: 1 Luke Hutchinson, 2 Joseph Ferguson, 3 Nathan Woodthorpe, 12 Harvey Gregson, 5 Chris Doyle (Manasse Mampala 71′), 6 Josh Wardle, 7 Finlay Sinclair-Smith, 8 Louis White, 9 Connor Evans (Jonathan Spittle 46′), 10 Jordan Lussey (Owen Robinson 65′), 11 Liam Nolan

Subs: 14 Jonathan Spittle, 15 Owen Robinson, 16 Manasse Mampala, 17 Freddie Sass

Hyde United: 1 Jordan Eastman, 2 Harry Ditchfield, 3 Josh Doherty, 4 Callum Spooner, 5 Joel Amado, 6 Bradley Roscoe, 7 Harry Bunn (Antoine Makoli 78′), 8 Shakeel Jones-Griffiths, 9 Will Russ (Matthew Fearnley 75′), 10 Jack Redshaw (Ellis Johnson 89′), 11 Lewis Alessandra

Subs: 12 Matthew Fearnley, 14 Antoine Makoli, 15 Sonny Whittingham, 16 Ryan White, 17 Ellis Johnson

Northern Premier League – Premier Division

Saturday 6th January 2024

Kick-off: 3pm

The Marine Travel Arena

Marine Man of the Match – Joe Ferguson

Photo courtesy Sean Walsh