Marine 1-1 Stamford

Marine made it seven points from three games inside a week as they were held by struggling Stamford at the Marine Travel Arena. Stephen Wainwright and Charlie Barnett returned to Sean Hessey's starting eleven having missed Thursday's win at Buxton, whilst Chris Sharp partnered Chad Whyte in attack in the absence of the injured Danny Mitchley.

In a cagey opening spell the first chance of any note came the way of the Mariners as Barnett's free-kick from the left was half-cleared as far as Liam Goulding on the edge of the area, however the young centre-back's shot was blocked at source and the Daniels were able to avert the danger.

The visitors took the lead in the 16th minute as Daniels' midfielder Downey capitalised on a misjudged defensive header to race through and lob the advancing Matt Cooper from 18 yards.

The Mariners replied in fine style, their equalising goal arriving just two minutes later as a Barnett free-kick from the right was met by the head of Chris Sharp. The ex-Salford striker outjumped his markers and directed a downward header from 12 yards past the despairing dive of veteran 'keeper Bastock to restore parity.

With the sides level once more the remainder of the opening period saw a dearth of scoring opportunities created, with the game closely resembling the hard-fought but ultimately uninspiring encounter witnessed when the teams met recently in Lincolnshire.

A bright opening to the second half promised more for the home faithful and the handful of travelling Daniels fans, and the Mariners came close to taking the lead just three minutes in. A mistake in the Stamford defence allowed Sharp's neat touch to set Whyte racing clear of the visiting rearguard, Whyte being denied by the woodwork for the second time in as many games as his left-footed shot beat Bastock but not his right-hand post.

On the hour mark the Mariners' striking partnership combined effectively once more as Whyte's pass found Sharp on the right of the Stamford area, Bastock narrowing the angle to block smartly from Sharp's goalbound effort.

At the other end the visiting Reds forced a corner which was swung in from their right, seasoned striker Smith leaping highest but being unable to keep his header down and the ball flew a yard or so over Cooper's crossbar.

The Daniels sought to take the game to Marine in the final twenty minutes in search of a vital winner in their battle to avoid relegation, with the Mariners perhaps tiring slightly and rather unsurprisingly given their recent exertions.

With 15 minutes remaining the Whites forced a corner which was cleared and Stamford were able to break through pacy substitute Rzonca. The winger's strong run took him to the edge of the Marine area where his clever back-heel found the onrushing Newman, however the striker failed to provide the sting in the tail as he fired high against the outside of Cooper's right-hand post with only the salmon-shirted stopper to beat.

Two minutes later Rzonca threatened once again as he cut in from the left but shot a couple of yards wide from just outside the box.

The Daniels continued to press and Smith's chested lay-off found substitute Beeson who fired high and wide from 22 yards.

Having survived a spell of pressure the resilient Mariners looked for a winner of their own as the game entered the final stages. Having been felled a couple of yards from the corner of the Stamford box, substitute Andy Owens' low free-kick deflected off the visitors' wall for the onrushing Liam Willis to sidefoot past Bastock from 6 yards out. Unfortunately for Hessey's men the joy was short-lived with the Assistant indicating offside and the 'goal' was chalked off.

Sharp then tested Bastock from 25 yards but the custodian held Sharp's well-struck effort with relative ease.

As the game entered added time Wainwright bombed down the Mariners' right flank before sending a low cross into Owens, the midweek hero teeing-up substitute Sean Myler who was slightly off-balance as he drove his shot a yard wide of target from the edge of the box.

Time elapsed to leave honours even between the two sides this season, although the result arguably aids the Mariners far more than the Daniels in their quest for survival in the EvoStik Premier Division.

The Mariners entertain another relegation-threatened side in Mickleover Sports on Tuesday evening at the Marine Travel Arena, kick off is at 7:45pm.

Marine: Matt Cooper, Stephen Wainwright, Andy Nicholas (c), Liam Goulding, James Foley (Sean Myler 90), Liam Willis, Alex Davies, Charlie Barnett, Chris Sharp, Chad Whyte (Andy Owens 74), James Short (Warren Bellew 52).

Unused subs: Sean Hessey, Jack Hunter. Cautions: Short.

Stamford: Paul Bastock, Curtis Hartley, Ollie Luto (Jack Wightwick 56), Jon Challinor (c), Tom Batchelor, Sam Hill, Sam Downey (Lee Beeson 69), Jake Duffy, Gregg Smith, Jake Newman, Jordan Smith (Callum Rzonca 62).

Unused subs: Lewis Jackson. Cautions: J Smith, Hill.

Goals: Marine; Sharp (18).
Stamford; Downey (16)

Referee: Mr Nick Greenhalgh
Assistants: Mr Bilal Moosa and Mr Abid Hussein

Attendance: 329