Marine recorded their first three points of the season at the Arriva Stadium on Saturday, as second half goals from Andy Fowler and Aaron Burns gave them a deserved win over Barwell.

Carl Macauley's men had much the better of the contest against a robust Leicestershire outfit, although they had Matt Cooper to thank late on for preserving a clean sheet with an excellent penalty save from Callum Woodward.

Patience was the key word for the Whites who started very strongly without making the all important breakthrough, but two well crafted and executed goals on 64 and 81 minutes wrapped up the points.

Early pressure from the homesters led to a flurry of corners, with Burns having the clearest sight of goal as he latched on to a loose ball but firing over the top from a good position.

Marine were finding plenty of space down the right and carved out another opening with a flowing move, Steve Wainwright feeding James Foley to lay off in to the path of Fowler to steer a shot just wide of the far post.

Barwell were finding chances hard to come by but gradually found their feet as the half wore on, Luke Barlone heading on for Scott Rickards to drag an effort off target.

Burns went close again as half time beckoned, cutting in from the left before drilling a shot across goal and literally inches wide of the upright.

The Canaries enjoyed their best spell of the match early in the second half, Rickards nipping in front of Cooper as he raced off his line and looking a likely scorer, Andy Nicholas pulling off a perfectly timed tackle to snuff out the danger.

Barlone sent a dipping volley over the top but it was the Mariners who opened the scoring, James Short's deep cross being flicked on by Burns to Fowler, with the mercurial meandering minstrel shifting the ball to his left foot before dispatching a crisp finish inside Liam Castle's near post.

Fowler was in again soon afterwards, this time his drive missing the target before substitute Ben Love responded for the visitors, his free kick being clutched comfortably by Cooper.

The Mariners doubled their advantage with another well taken goal, Fowler's break on the right setting up Dan Fearnehough, his shot being blocked but Burns being on hand to sweep home the rebound on the turn past the Wotsit clad custodian.

That appeared to be that but Barwell were handed a late lifeline with a perhaps generous award of a penalty kick for handball against Jon Goulding, but Cooper rolled out the barrel to plunge to his right and parry Woodward's spot kick as the Mariners took the points.

Marine: Matt Cooper, Steve Wainwright, James Short, Andy Nicholas, John Shaw (Cap), Karl Clair, Andy Fowler (Liam Rice 90), Jonathan Goulding, Aaron Burns, Dan Fearnehough, James Foley.

Unused subs: Tom Owens, James Mitchison (G/K). Cautions: Shaw.

Barwell: Liam Castle, Aiden Kirby (Danny Haynes 82), Edward Nisevic, Guy Hadland, Nigel Julien, Richard Lavery (Cap), Robert Paratore (Ben Love 76), Callum Woodward, Luke Barlone, Scott Rickards, Alex Tomkinson (Oliver Brown-Hill 82).

Unused subs: Connor Leek, Conor Fulford. Cautions: Woodward, Tomkinson.

Referee: Mr. Richard Wild (Rochdale); Assistants Mr. Derek Brannick (Oldham), Mr. Conor Brown (Rochdale).

Attendance: 261.