Stalybridge Celtic 3-2 Marine

Mariners undone at Bower Fold...

Marine opened their away League campaign with a defeat on Tuesday night as they went down 3-2 at the hands of Stalybridge Celtic at Bower Fold.

Manager Tommy Lawson shuffled his pack with David Webb unavailable due to work commitments and central defender Andy Hollins making his debut.

The homesters began strongly, moving the ball quickly on the excellent playing surface with Tom Brown putting them ahead after just five minutes, firing in a strong drive from the edge of the area after being set up by ex Mariner Scott Bakkor.

Celtic doubled their lead four minutes later when another former Marine player Liam Tongue sent in a cross shot from out on the right which found the top corner of the net.

Stalybridge were well on top at this point and came close to making the game safe before half time but hit the post from close range, Marine countering quickly and finding a way back in to the game when Josh Hine pounced on a backpass to steer the ball past the advancing Jake Turner in the home goal.

The second half was a much more even contest with James Murray having a great chance to level, his far post header from a Kenny Strickland cross being kept out by a smart stop from Turner.

Celtic looked to have made the game safe on 77 minutes, Brown netting his second goal of the game in similar fashion to the first, with a well struck shot in to the bottom left hand corner of Martin Fearon's net.

That looked to be that for the Mariners but they fought back well and were awarded a penalty on 86 minutes for a clumsy foul on Danny Mitchley, the striker sending Turner the wrong way with the spot kick to open his account for the season.

Marine pressed strongly for an equaliser in the dying minutes, Dom Reid having their best chance with a curling effort that Turner grasped away to his left but Stalybridge saw out time to claim all three points.

Stalybridge Celtic: Jake Turner, Liam Tongue, Scott Wilson, Tom Brown, Danny Brady (Cap), Michael Clarke, Matty Wolfenden, Ross Dent (Billy Akrigg 65), Scott Bakkor (John Marsden 69), Greg Wilkinson (Scott Harries 82), Niall Flint.

Unused subs: Callum Spooner, Aiden Winterbottom.

Marine: Martin Fearon, Kenny Strickland, James Short, Louis Coyne, Andy Hollins, Tony Donaldson (Dom Reid 69), James Murray, Craig Carney, Danny Mitchley (Cap), Josh Hine, Ged Kinsella.

Unused subs: Chris Doyle, Conor Ready, Liam Davies, Germano Mendes (G/K).

Referee: Mr. Ian Johnston
Assistants: Mr. Dwayne Chappell, Mr. Stephen Rushworth.

Attendance: 312.