Christmas came early for the Mariners yesterday (Saturday 23 December) as they beat Barwell with a scintillating performance that extends their run to 11 wins in 14 games in all competitions.
There were two changes to the team from last weekends’ strong display at Chorley, with Liam Tongue replacing the suspended Billy Smart and Peter Wylie replacing Kenny Strickland at right back.
Barwell had managed to grind out a 1-0 win at the MTA earlier in the season but Marine have transformed as a team since then.
It was a very scrappy opening 20 minutes with neither team finding their rhythm and the ball being largely hoofed high into the Leicestershire sky.
The first real action came after 25 minutes when Danny Mitchley had a goal ruled out for offside following a great through ball from James Murray.
Marine didn’t have to wait long for another chance. Mitchley ran with the ball on the left-hand side of the box then cut it back for Florian Da Silva who unleashed a beautifully struck rocket from 20 yards to make it 1-0.
Da Silva’s goal quite literally brought the game to life.
Just a few minutes later James Murray doubled Marine’s lead with a well taken goal of his own when he buried the ball into the bottom corner to continue his rich vein of form.
Barwell’s afternoon then got even more challenging after Nigel Julien was sent off for a nasty challenge on Michael Brewster, who was baring the brunt of the Canaries’ bite.
Just before the half-time whistle Adam Hughes, who is on fine form, poked the ball into the net after a goal mouth scramble to extend Marine’s lead to 3-0.
Michael Grogan replaced Hughes as the second half kicked off with Barwell looking a different team on the attack.
But it was Marine who scored. Florian Da Silva, on one of his many fruitful runs, was felled in the area and Mitchley made no mistake from the spot to make it 4-0 and effectively end the contest.
Barwell had a number of half chances but never really looked like scoring.
Dominic Reid and Max Hazeldine were introduced later in the half and Reid missed a glorious chance in what could have been the move of the match. Brewster sprayed the ball out to Murray on the right wing who put in a teasing cross but Reid scuffed his final effort.
There was some late drama as Barwell had another man sent off for a bad tackle, then Brewster was red carded for his reaction to the original foul.
Watch Tommy Lawson’s post-match interview
Next up for Marine is their home league game against Altrincham on Boxing Day.
Marine: Martin Fearon, Peter Wylie, James Short, Adam Hughes (Michael Grogan 46), Phil Baker, Liam Tongue, James Murray (Max Hazeldine 73), Michael Brewster, Danny Mitchley (Dominic Reid 61), Vinny Bailey, Florian Da Silva
Subs not used: George Lomax, Kenny Strickland
Barwell: Liam Castle, Declan Towers, Eliott Percival, Craig Stanley, Luke Foster, Nigel Julien, Jake Heath, Lee Hildreth, Callum Ball, Brady Hickey, Matt Stenson
Subs: Owen Story, Jake Whitmore, Ryan Baldwin, Tom Bates, Guy Hadland
Referee: Bradley Hall
Assistants: Adam Clenaghan, Darren Laska
Attendance: 137
# | Team | Pl | Pts |
17. | Lancaster City | 46 | 55 |
18. | Rushall Olympic | 46 | 54 |
19. | Marine | 46 | 53 |
20. | Coalville Town | 46 | 52 |
21. | Whitby Town | 46 | 50 |
22. | Stalybridge Celtic | 46 | 48 |
23. | Halesowen Town | 46 | 45 |