Marine 4-1 Colwyn Bay

Marine secured safe passage to their first cup final for eight seasons with a comprehensive win over an ill-disciplined Colwyn Bay outfit at the Marine Travel Arena. Manager Sean Hessey's threadbare squad was further diminished for the game as skipper Andy Nicholas and Liam Willis were away, with midfielder Charlie Barnett also unavailable once more and striker Chris Sharp cup-tied, all of which resulted in the Crosby club only managing to name three substitutes. On a positive note Hessey was able to slot in at centre-back whilst Lewis Codling returned to the bench having missed Saturday's win at Blyth Spartans.

With both sides knowing that defeat would bring an end to their season the early exchanges were understandably nervy. The Mariners though began to gain the upper hand over their already relegated opponents and a Warren Bellew corner from their right was met by Andy Owens whose header was saved by Farrimond diving low to his right.

On 12 minutes the Mariners punished Bay's poor defensive marking as another Bellew corner saw Hessey rise highest to plant his header past 'keeper and defender on the goalline, the boss settling his team's nerves as he gave them an early lead.

Six minutes later and the visitors threatened for the first time as a quadrant-kick from their right reached Lamb at the back post, but the striker's header proved slightly sheepish as it dropped tamely wide of the left-hand upright.

The Mariners continued to play decent football in search of a second goal and a ball played in toward Danny Mitchley saw the in-form striker appear to be held by a Bay defender, Andy Owens latching on to the loose ball to fire a shot straight at Farrimond who parried and gathered at the second attempt.

On the half-hour mark Mitchley was presented with a sight of goal as Farrimond's poor attempted clearance fell straight to the striker who advanced into the area but dragged his left footed finish a yard wide of target.

Three minutes later the Whites doubled their lead to the delight of hen's teeth collectors everywhere. A ball into the Bay box was headed clear as far as James Foley, the curly-coiffed combatant racing onto the loose ball before drilling a delightful daisy-cutter from 25 yards past the despairing dive of Farrimond for a richly deserved first goal of the season.

The Mariners were now firmly in command and sought to kill the game before the interval, Hessey's diagonal ball into the box being met by Owens whose header was well held by the overworked Farrimond low to his right.

A rare Bay foray saw them awarded a free kick 25 yards out which was curled over the home wall and pushed behind by Matt Cooper, with the resulting corner being cleared by the Whites' rearguard.

Owens then received possession from a throw-in deep inside the Bay half and cut inside before fizzing a shot from the edge of the box narrowly past the angle of post at crossbar.

The game was well and truly up for the Welshmen three minutes before the break as Mitchley was brought down midway inside the Bay half. The striker's quick thinking saw him poke a quick free kick through for the ever alert Owens to advance on goal and despatch a low finish past Farrimond via the post to the delight of the home faithful at the Crosender Road end. Immediately after the goal was awarded by referee Hodskinson a melee ensued with Mitchley appearing to be struck by Bay centre-back Boland, the well-positioned arbiter instantly dismissing the defender for violent conduct to deepen the Welsh side's woes.

Despite the claret-and-blue clad Bay giving a passable impression of Aston Villa they did manage to create a gilt-edged opportunity to reduce their deficit on the stroke of half time. A corner from their right fell to player-manager Rodgers, however the ex-Telford man sidefooted his volley over the bar from just a couple of yards out to leave his side with a second half mountain to climb.

The Mariners pressed at the start of the second period as they sought to take advantage of their numerical superiority and Owens fired a free kick goalwards from 25 yards but Farrimond held with relative ease.

Bellew's teasing cross from the left somehow evaded both Owens and Mitchley as it flew wide of goal before James Short worked wonders to dispossess the Bay full back on the byline, Short's cut back allowing Mitchley to shoot but Bay substitute Fagbola prevented further damage with a smart block.

However the Mariners did increase their tally on 54 minutes as Mitchley turned sharply to fire in a left footed volley from the corner of the box, Farrimond failing to catch cleanly but the ball dropped wide of goal for a corner. Bellew's delivery to the near post was met by a thumping header from Alan Burton into the top corner to seal the Welshmen's fate.

Midway through the half the rampant Mariners almost went nap as Owens was felled 35 yards from goal. Hessey's dangerous free-kick saw the poorly marked Mitchley flick a header past the advancing Farrimond but Rodgers recovered superbly to hook the ball clear from under his own crossbar.

The Llanelian Road side finally had the ball in the net on 72 minutes as a free kick from 25 yards forced Cooper to parry, Lamb tucking home the rebound from an acute angle but being denied by the Assistant's flag for offside.

However the Seagulls did grab a consolation goal ten minutes from time as they broke forward and promising young striker Kelleher was played through to the right of the Marine area, the Morecambe loanee providing a composed low finish via Cooper's right-hand post.

Alex Davies then surged forward at the College Road end and weaved his way into the right-hand side of the Bay box, the young wing-wizard being denied as Farrimond blocked bravely at close quarters.

As the game entered added time the Welsh outfit were reduced to nine men as substitute Harper kicked out at the prone Hessey following a scramble inside the Marine area, referee Hodskinson once again having no hesitation in dismissing the Bay winger.

Full time arrived without further incident as the Mariners sealed a thoroughly deserved victory and with it the chance to earn their first piece of silverware since the 2007/08 season.

Marine face Scarborough Athletic in the final this Friday evening which takes place at Farsley Celtic's Throstle Nest, kick off is at 8:00pm.

Marine: Matt Cooper, Stephen Wainwright, James Short, Liam Goulding (c), James Foley, Sean Hessey, Warren Bellew, Alan Burton, Danny Mitchley (Chad Whyte 76), Andy Owens (Lewis Codling 76), Alex Davies.

Unused subs: Sean Myler. Cautions: none.

Colwyn Bay: Andrew Farrimond, Ben Cartwright, Luke Denson, Carl Rodgers, Antonie Boland, Stephen Wilson, Josh Sumner, Bradley Bauress (Jordan Fagbola 46), Jack Kelleher (Shaun Dowling 86), Carl Lamb, Cory Williams (Jordan Harper 81).

Unused subs: Shaun Pearson, Liam Jones. Cautions: Sumner. Sent Off: Boland, Harper
Goals: Marine; Hessey (12), Foley (33), Owens (42), Burton (54).
Colwyn Bay; Kelleher (80)

Referee: Mr Paul Hodskinson,
Assistants: Mr Andrew Sykes and Mr Steven Holden

Attendance: 260