Marine 0-2 Bamber Bridge

Mariners lose relegation battle at MTA...

By Tom Clarke

Bamber Bridge came out on top of a relegation dogfight at the MTA on Monday afternoon, saving themselves from the drop but inflicting a real blow to Marine’s hopes of survival.

The visitors came storming out of the blocks, with chances coming through Joseph Booth and Regan Linney, but Marine were able to weather the early storm and win a penalty half an hour into the game. Captain Danny Mitchley stepped up after he was felled in the box, sending the ball straight down the middle, but visiting ‘keeper Lloyd Rigby saved it with his legs to extend the home side’s poor record from the spot this season.

Bamber Bridge went straight up the other end to win a penalty of their own, Chris Doyle penalised for a trip in the box, and Alistair Waddecar stepped up and sent the ball into the bottom right corner past Joe Hilton.

The visitors came out for the second half in similar fashion to the first, firing ahead just three minutes after the break again through Waddecar.

Marine pushed on to find a goal back, sending Doyle up top from centre-half, with the make-shift forward hitting a couple of balls across goal which Mitchley couldn't quite latch on to.

Kieran Holsgrove was lively off the bench, sending in several swinging deliveries which the hosts couldn't convert, one being cleared off the line.

There was a late frenzy of chances as Steve Irwin had a shot parried into the air leading to headed chances for both Sam Tattum and Mitchley, but it wasn't to be as the match ended 0-2.

Marine head to league leaders Farsley Celtic next Saturday, needing either a result or other results to go their way for Evo-Stik League survival.

Marine: Joe Hilton; Sam Tattum, James Joyce, Danny Shaw, Chris Doyle; Kenny Strickland, James Murray (John Marsden, 80), Steve Irwin, Craig Carney (Kieran Holsgrove, 53), Liam Hynes; Danny Mitchley.
Unused subs: James Short, Will Dunne, Germano Mendes.

Bamber Bridge: Lloyd Rigby; Christopher Churchman, Adam Dodd, Matt Lawlor, Kieran Charnock; Danny Forbes, Regan Linney (Owen Watkinson, 76), Joseph Booth, Matthew Dudley; Alistair Waddecar, Scott Harries (Chris Marlow, 56).
Unused subs: Phil Doughty, Mark Buchan, Dominic McGiveron.

Referee: Mr. Alan Bennett (Wigan).
Assistant referees: Mr. Jordan Chadwick (Leigh), Mr. Matthew McQuillan (Wigan).

Attendance: 544.