Marine needed to win the last game of the season to ensure a second place finish in the West Cheshire Division 1 and round of a great season for the reserve squad. The reserves started off with their normal 4-2-3-1 formation and right from the start tried to enforce there authority on the visitors, Marine were playing some nice football and were keeping the ball really well with the back four of Francis, Shinks, Wynne and Bobb keeping the ball across the back line in a confident manner. Marine were making headway with Pearson up front and Doran playing just of the big striker. Marine took the lead when a nice passage of play was rounded of by Connolly whose shot from the edge of the box beat the keeper low to his left after taking a few bobbles on its way, a well deserved first goal for the midfielder before he leaves for a summer to the USA. This settled Marine down and they started to move the ball around the pitch really well, with Foster and Connolly controlling the midfield and Brown and Cross always available on the wings. Marines second came from a great piece of football when Doran was played in from his deep run and finished smartly from just inside the box. Marine could have gone further ahead when person had 2 great opportunities being played in 1 on 1 with the keeper but failed to finish from tight angles. Christleton managed to pull one back when a long cross was not dealt with and the ball dropping to the forward to poke home from close range under pressure from Wynne, overall a deserved lead from the home team.
Half time Marine Reserves 2, Christleton 1
Marine were forced into 2 half time changes with Pearson receiving a gash on his ankle being replaced by Ennis and Ferguson replacing Cross on the right hand side of midfield. 2 Minutes in to the second half a third change was forced upon marine as Doran was replaced by Gail due to a groin injury. Marine stuck to the task and continued to play the passing football that has been their trademark this season. Christleton came out much more determined and were closing the Marine team at every opportunity, there were 3 or 4 crosses into the box which Pye dealt with confidence. Marine furthered there lead after 60 mins when Gail received a short corner from Foster, turning the defender in the box unleashed a fierce drive from a narrow angle that beat the keeper at the near post and rocketed into the net, a well deserved goal for the young lad who has had to be patient this year after moving up from the under 18s. This should have settled Marine but Christleton to their credit kept testing Marines defence and managed a second when a high ball into the box was not dealt with and as it dropped was poked in from close range. 3-2, the final 15 mins saw Marine defend their lead in a gritty determined fashion, with Shinks and Wynne at the heart of many a last ditched block. Things were looking even harder for Marine when Bobb had to leave the field with a broken nose and concussion with 10 mins left, the reserves moved to a 4-4-1 formation to see out the game with Gail moving to right midfield, Ferguson to left back and Ennis up front on his own, Christlton sensed a chance of an equaliser and put the marine defence under some real pressure, Pye denied Christleton the draw with a stunning double save from close range and the whole defence held up well in the closing minutes. A well deserved win that sees the reserves secure second place on the back of a 14 game unbeaten run that has seen 10 wins and 4 draws, scoring 41 goals and conceding only 14, and remaining unbeaten since 2nd of December 2011.

Full Time Marine Reserves 3-1 Christleton
A fitting finish to the 2011-12 season for the young reserve side, the win in today’s game secures the runners up spot in division 1 behind Champions Ashville a fantastic achievement for the squad of players, well done to everyone.
Marine Reserves
Dean Pye, Lewis Francis, Anthony Shinks (captain) Jay Wynne, Tom Bobb, Brad Foster, John Connolly, Mike Brown, John Cross I(Ferguson 45mins), Rob Doran (Gail 47Mins), Paul Pearson (Ennis 45Mins).
Subs, Danny Kelly, Kearon Jones, Steve Gail, Phil Ferguson, Sam Ennis.