Marine 1-0 Stafford Rangers

Matty Hamilton's first goal in a Marine shirt proved the difference and gave the Crosby club a welcome win against Stafford Rangers at the Marine Travel Arena. Manager Sean Hessey made two changes to the team which was defeated at Stourbridge last weekend, as Hamilton and Lewis Field replaced the injured duo of Danny Mitchley and Warren Bellew.

Stafford almost took an early lead as svelte striker Perry cut onto his left-foot before seeing his shot from 15 yards strike the base of Calvin Hare's left-hand upright, the rebound evading an orange-shirted attacker and the Mariners were able clear.

Having survived the early scare the Whites struck in the 5th minute as a deep James Short cross from the left was played back across the box by Craig Lindfield for Matty Hamilton to provide the first-time finish from eight yards out.

Lindfield's low cross almost resulted in a quickfire second for the Mariners as Andy Nicholas burst into the area to beat visiting custodian Whitehouse but see his effort scrambled away from goal. However all debate as to whether the ball had crossed the line was halted abruptly by the Assistant's offside flag.

Marines impressive start continued as James Foley and Short combined to send Kurt Sherlock away down the left flank, the ex-Stalybridge man's teasing cross evading the onrushing Lindfield by a whisker.

Rangers' midfielder Batchelor sent an opportunist effort goalward from 25 yards, attempting to catch Hare out of position, but the salmon-shirted stopper was alert to throw a glove skywards and parry before gathering.

On the half-hour mark Hare's attempted clearance from near the corner flag fell to visiting left-back Bowen who tried his luck with a first-time shot from fully 40 yards, but the retreating Hare gladly watched the ball sail a couple of yards over the College Road crossbar.

The Mariners were then frustrated by the woodwork as Lindfield's touch found Sherlock who crashed a shot from the corner of the penalty area past the despairing dive of Whitehouse but against his left-hand upright, with the rebound falling kindly for an orange-shirted defender to clear.

As the half drew to a close a dangerous-looking Stafford attack was thwarted by a strong and well-timed Andy Nicholas challenge on the edge of the box, the ball reaching substitute Reid whose rising shot ended up in the Main Stand as the Mariners held a deserved lead at the interval.

The Whites came close to doubling their advantage within sixty seconds of the restart as Whitehouse's miscued clearance allowed Hamilton to stretch and prod goalwards, the ball rolling just the wrong side of the left-hand post from the perspective of the home faithful.

At the other end Bowen narrowly failed to find the bulls-eye from a free-kick, the ball whistling inches past the frame of the goal with Hare rooted.

On the hour mark Foley and Field combined well on the right for the latter to centre from the by-line to the near post, Sherlock arriving to divert his finish agonisingly over the bar.

The burly Perry then escaped the attentions of the home rearguard to meet a deep cross from the Rangers left, Hare proving equal to the task as he palmed the ball over and behind to preserve his side's lead.

Play then became somewhat fractious for the final quarter of the game as the Mariners sought to kill the game with a second goal but failed to significantly test Whitehouse, Hamilton's rather scuffed left-footed strike from just inside the box proving their best opportunity.

For their part, Stafford resorted to increasingly direct tactics but Hare's handling proved impeccable as he fended off one aerial assault after another.

With a minute of the ninety remaining Field picked up a somewhat unnecessary but also rather harsh-looking second yellow card of the afternoon and was dismissed by referee Mulhall. Despite this, the Whites held their lead through four minutes of added time to record a well-deserved first win of 2017.

The Mariners make the relatively short trip to face Warrington Town on Tuesday evening in a league fixture which will see a number of players on either side facing their former club. Kick off at the Winner Recruitment Stadium is at 7:45pm.

Marine: Calvin Hare, Lewis Field, Andy Nicholas, Robbie Threlfall, James Foley (Mike Grogan 71), Adam Hughes, Craig Lindfield (Will Doherty 72), Zac Thompson, Matty Hamilton, Kurt Sherlock (Sean Myler 88), James Short.

Unused subs: Tom Moore, Dean Porter. Cautions: Lindfield, Field. Sent Off: Field

Stafford Rangers: Adam Whitehouse, Samuel Griffiths (Tim Sanders 68), James Bowen, Kieran Morris, Matthew Bailey (c), Mitchell Tolley, Izak Reid, Joshua Gordon, Kyle Perry, Steven Craig (Levi Reid 43), Richard Batchelor.

Unused subs: Kris Taylor, Darren Thornton, George Cater. Cautions: none.

Goals: Marine; Hamilton (5)

Referee: Mr Sam Mulhall
Assistants: Mr Garry Polkey and Mr Simon Richmond

Attendance: 460