Recap

Tom Clarke reports as the Mariners hit five to reach the next round of the FA Trophy…

Marine progressed to the Third Qualifying Round of the Buildbase FA Trophy with a 5-0 victory over Mossley on Saturday afternoon, courtesy of a Mo Touray hat-trick as well as goals from Niall Cummins and Neil Kengni.

In a subdued first half, Marine looked to be recovering from the big FA Cup win in midweek. A revitalised Josh Solomon-Davies made his second start since returning from injury though, and provided a constant outlet from the right-hand side. It was the former Wirral AC sprinter’s cross-shot which was the game’s first real chance, after he bombed upfield and sent an effort tantalisingly across the face of goal with 12 minutes gone.

Josh Hmami was next to go close for the Mariners but his effort from the centre of the box wasn’t until the 38th minute, and Jordan Hanlow got his hand low quick enough to make the save.

Neil Young’s half-time team talk clearly struck a chord with the men in black and gold, who won a penalty just four minutes into the second period when Touray was dragged down in the box. Birthday boy Mikey Howard stepped up to take it, but Hanlow stopped it with a strong diving save.

Touray was up to his old tricks again on the right side of the penalty area just moments later before teeing up James Barrigan, but the wide man’s effort was just over the bar.

The Mariners broke the deadlock on 63 minutes when Bayleigh Passant’s beautiful side volley was touched down by Touray, who had his defender stumbling before nestling the ball past Hanlow.

Hanlow was forced into a triple save not long after the opening goal, as Marine piled on the pressure. Touray’s initial shot was parried only as far as Cummins, who took two bites at the apple before Mossley managed to clear.

Touray doubled his and Marine’s tally on 73 minutes when he touched down Howard’s long ball before beating Hanlow again from just inside the box.

The Salford City loanee tripled that tally just three minutes later when picking up the ball on the halfway line, driving forward at Mossley’s right-back before dazzling him with several step-overs and leaving Hanlow helpless once again.

Touray was immediately withdrawn after his hat-trick to spare the visitors further blushes, along with the birthday boy, as the pair were replaced by Kengni and James Devine. Hmami also made way for Kenny Strickland in Young’s final change.

There was no sign of shutting up shop though, as Niall Cummins backheeled in a fourth from close range with three minutes left on the clock following some more tidy wing work from Solomon-Davies.

Kengni put the cherry on top of the already heavily iced cake in stoppage time, after Barrigan’s cross was headed away only as far as the pacy forward who took the ball away from his defender before beating the flourescent gloves of Hanlow once again.

Marine can now enjoy a seven-day break for the first time this season, before a big FA Cup Fourth Qualifying Round tie against Chester next Saturday 24th October behind closed doors.

Marine: Bayleigh Passant, Josh Solomon-Davies, James Joyce, Alex Doyle, Anthony Miley, David Raven, Mikey Howard (James Devine, 80), Josh Hmami (Kenny Strickland, 83), Niall Cummins, Mo Touray (Neil Kengni, 77), James Barrigan.
Unused subs: Danny Shaw, Germano Mendes.

Mossley: Jordan Hadlow, Steve Mason, James O’Hara, Kane Hickman, Jack Grundy, Declan Evans, Keaton Mulvey, Andy Keogh, Danny McLaughlin (Anthony Brown, 69), Ryan Shenton (Dylan Fitzgerald, 78), Matty Waller (Jordan Butterworth, 78).
Unused subs: Dylan Stringer-Moth, Ethan Kershaw, Sam Kilner.

Goals: Mo Touray (63, 73, 76), Niall Cummins (87), Neil Kengni (80).

Referee: David Croft. Assistant referees: Kyle Matthews, Josh Smith.

Attendance: 260.

🎥After today's 5-0 victory at home to @MossleyAFC in the @BuildbaseUK FA Trophy, @TomClarke40 spoke to Manager Neil Young:#COYM pic.twitter.com/bcxl1XO9YQ

— Marine Football Club (@MarineAFC) October 17, 2020

🎥Following his hat-trick in the 5-0 win, @modou_tourayy spoke to @TomClarke40: pic.twitter.com/dydG35C7CL

— Marine Football Club (@MarineAFC) October 17, 2020