Marine 0
Nantwich Town 0
League (NPL Premier Division)

Match Report

UNIBOND FOOTBALL LEAGUE
Premier Division
Tuesday 2nd September 7:45pm
MARINE 0
NANTWICH TOWN 0
MARINE: Lake. Farley. Potter. Williams. Brazier. Hussey. Lawless. Parle ©. Atherton. Cumiskey.
Woolcott. Subs: Brookfield. Tuck. Rainford. Newell. McNicholas.
NANTWICH TOWN: Jones. Taylor. Smith. O’Loughlin. Tinson. Parkinson © (Hawthorne 70) Heler
(Carter 64). Blackhurst. Shotton (Walker 78). Lennon. Griggs. Subs: Carter. Walker. Hawthorne.
Beasley. Naggington.
Referee: R.Johnson (Manchester)
Attendance 305
MATCH REPORT
High winds and persistent driving rain in the first half in particular made for
very difficult conditions at the Arriva Stadium, to both sides credit however, an
excellent display of football was on offer but despite a number of chances for
either side, the keenly contested match ended goalless.
Nantwich took the game to the home side from the start before securing a 2nd
minute corner from which Darren Tinson was most unfortunate not to connect
with a free kick after the ball whipped in from deep on the Marine right hand
side, the ball grazing ‘Tinnos’ head from 5 yards out when well placed.
Moments later fellow defender Charlie O’Loughlin won a corner after his close
range header went off a defender followed shortly after by a fiercely driven
goal bound strike from Glyn Blackhurst that unfortunately deflected away from
goal after striking a defender – however, during the clearance the ball came
back toward goal where Micky Lennon managed to get on the end of it at the
foot of the right hand post only to be denied by ‘keeper Lake when he
snatched the ball from the feet of our No.10.
Marine eventually settled with Atherton going close from a rasping drive from
12 yards that fell narrowly wide of the target – meanwhile at the other end, a
cross from deep sailed across the Marine goal mouth where the unmarked
Charlie O’Loughlin was unlucky not to trap the ball and return from the bye
line to fire at the open goal. Just before the half hour Potter fired a long range
effort that failed to trouble Lee Jones whilst moments later, his opposite
number excelled with a razor sharp reaction to a powerful ‘Blacky’ header to
keep the score level.
Close to the break, Marine won a corner through Atherton as the home side
piled on the pressure after finding the ‘Dabbers’ a hard nut to crack. In added
first half time, ‘Jonah’ made a terrific save from Lawless whilst for the boys in
green, a Danny Griggs free kick from deep sailed across the face of goal
intended for Charlie O’Loughlin but when the ball reached our young
defender, lurking unmarked at the far post, the ball flew between his legs and
a good opportunity disappeared.
After the break, the rain eased whilst both sides continued where they left off,
battling it out all over the park. Woollcott was denied by Lee Jones in the 50th
minute before ‘Griggsy’ tested Lake from distance. ‘Dabbers’ captain Phil
Parkinson went close in the 55th minute with a powerful drive that forced Lake
to spill the ball at the foot of his right hand post but despite close attention
from Micky Lennon the Marine ‘keeper held at the second attempt. Glyn
Blackhurst followed with a shot that forced Lake down on his line for the save – Liam Shotton then placed a shot toward goal that unfortunately lacked the
power to trouble the Marine custodian before Micky Lennon cut the ball in
from the bye line - fired across the box, only to discover that no fellow player
was on hand to divert the ball into an unguarded net at the far post.
With the hour mark past, the pace of the game showed no sign of relenting –
both sides closing each other down in a game where no quarter was given.
However, as the game wore on Marine began to demonstrate why they have
been a force at this level for years with all the signs of a strong finish from the
‘Mariners’ beginning to emerge. But at the heart of our defence the Marine
forwards were finding Darren Tinson and Charlie O’Loughlin on top of their
game whilst Andy Taylor at right back was giving the tenacious Lawless a
difficult time. Over on the left, Richard Smith, deputising for the injured Dave
Tickle, was playing his part in a game that switched ends with regularity.
Marine winger Woolcott threatened with a shot that bent on the wind before
finishing a couple of yards wide of the target – for the ‘Dabbers’ Danny Griggs
73rd minute angled strike was headed clear of the goal mouth by a Marine
defender whilst ‘Scruff’ Taylor went close with an angled strike from deep that
unfortunately struck the side netting at a time when the Marine defence was
stretched. Dave Walker replaced ‘Shotts’ late in the game and within seconds
made an impact with a couple of strikes from the edge of the area – the first
unfortunately falling into the waiting hands of Lake whilst the second from a
Micky Lennon pass brought a fine save out of the Marine ‘keeper. At the other
end, Lawless looked odds on to score when well placed but fired wide
however, a minute from normal time the same player couldn’t believe his goal
bound looking shot from the edge of the area was scuppered after ‘Jonah’
came up with an absolutely brilliant reaction to punch the powerful shot over
the bar. From the incoming corner ‘Jonah’ was again superb when he reacted
by punching clear allowing ‘Smudger Smith, playing in an unfamiliar left back
role, to clear up field to place ‘Ash’ Carter on a run but after racing past three
defenders ‘Ash’ finished wide of the right hand post. Three minutes of added
time brought a very tense finish to a pulsating game in which Lee Jones
excelled at the death by denying Woolcott. Great game to watch – definitely
not for the faint hearted!
Steve Davis gave this reaction to the result:- “ A good workmanlike team
performance. We were under no illusions – this was always going to be one of
the early tests for us since we stepped up a level and on this performance we
passed with flying colours”.

Match report written by Phil Johnson