A late penalty proved the defining moment in a stop start game at Burscough. A sunny afternoon made running difficult for both sides but Marine showed enough stamina to come out on top despite being without the ball for periods of the second half.
Goals from trialist Christian Langos and Aaron Burns meant that Marine continue their good run of form and have the supporters eager for the beginning of the season.
Marine started the game with intent and composure, dominating long spells of possession with precise passing and movement that supporters are becoming accustomed to under Macauley. The pressure on the Burscough back four eventually took its toll.
A finely weighted pass from midfield found the ever present Christian Langos one on one with Tim Horn in the Burscough goal, and the young striker kept his composure to slot the ball in past the back post to give Marine a deserved lead.
Burscough struggled to maintain the control of the ball for a majority of the first half and presented Marine with the second clear chance of the game. With pressure from the wings denying Horn any time on the ball, the home goal minder scuffed his clearance to Daniel Fearnehough.
The midfielder took a touch on his chest before rifling a volley towards goal, only for the ball to take a heavy bounce off the turf, come off the crossbar and on to safety.
Langos continued to cause the home side a headache throughout the first half. The diminutive striker was a constant threat both coming short and collecting the ball deep or making decisive runs in behind. The home side were guilty of affording Marine too much time on the ball throughout the first half. The home side allowed Fearnehough and Matthew Williams the opportunity to get their heads up and find the runs of their forwards.
Marine’s discipline in defence was evident once again, John Shaw and Andrew Nicholas dealing easily with any crosses into their area and restricting the home side to long range efforts which did little to threaten Matthew Cooper’s goal.
Through a difficult first half Fearnehough managed to break through the back four and force a save from Horn. Collecting the ball outside his own half he dribbled past three defenders before scuffing his shot but showed the intent that Marine had to try and kill the game off in the first half.
Following the mid game interval Burscough began brighter, controlling the possession and applying some pressure on the Marine full backs. Danny Smith was guilty of taking on a shot when Dan Dunleavy and Liam Caddick were screaming for the ball only for the attacker to blast his effort well wide of the goal.
Burscough maintained their pressure with Dunleavy finding space to unleash two efforts at goal, the second of which drew a powerful save from substitute goalkeeper James Cairns at his front post.
Marine reacted well with Fearnehough becoming more of a driving influence from the heart of midfield.
The second goal took until the 65th minute and Marine were guilty of switching off after a failed penalty appeal. Langos went down following what looked like a tug on the shirt but Burscough broke on the counter.
The ball fell to Danny Smith on the outside of the Marine 18 yard area and the attacker clipped his effort spectacularly over the grasping Cairns in to the back post to draw the sides level.
Burscough were a different side than the one which began the game. Their midfielders were playing balls into the strikers with ease and were running at the Marine back four, giving them all sorts of problems.
Andy Fowler was the spark that brought Marine back into the game. The winger cut in from the left and Coakley struggling. Making a last ditch attempt to regain the ball the defender brought down Fowler and the referee made no hesitation to point to the spot.
Aaron Burns stepped up to take the spot kick and confidently placed it beyond Horn to take Marine back in front with 10 minutes left to play.
The goal proved enough for Marine to see out the rest of the game. Burscough attempts at drawing level for a second time were in vain as the Mariners took another win in to the start of the season.