Marine 0 Emley 2

Unibond League, Saturday 16th December 2000

Emley consolidated their position at the top of the Unibond league with a win over struggling Marine. A goal in each half from Darren Day and Simeon Bambrook was enough to see Emley pick up the points. This was despite playing out the game with ten men, after Simon Jones was sent off after an off the ball incident after 35 minutes..

Marine were looking to bounce back following a 5- 3 reverse in midweek to neighbours Burscough and hoping to reverse a run of form, which has seen them win only once their last 6 games.

The Mariners coped well with the early Emley pressure and carved out a number of chances of their own. Emley were looking good value for their ascendant position in the table and to their credit tried to play a patient passing game despite conditions that, were more favourable for something less cultured.

The game came to life on 23 minutes, when an Emley penalty appeal was turned down, much to the annoyance of the travelling Emley supporters. Garry Hatto went down under a challenge from Marine’s Phil Johnson. The referee adjudged that Hatto had dived and awarded a goal kick to Marine. The officials caused further consternation, a minute later amongst the Emley ranks when Nazha was adjudged to be offside. Lebanese international Nazha was a constant thorn in Marine’s side with his powerful running mirrored with nimble footwork nearly paid off again with Emley’s next attack.

Marine enjoyed a decent spell of pressure, Gerald Courtney and Ricky Bainbridge both went close for the home side .But Marine were left to rue these chances soon after when Emley made their pressure count. After good work by the Emley full back Nicholson who played a long ball out of defence which found Bambrook who switched the ball to the on rushing Day, who fired home after 33 minutes to make it one-nil.

Emley nearly made it two-nil a minute later, when Nazha was put through but was thwarted by the pitch as much by the interception by the Marine defender.

Then on 36 minutes Emley were reduced to ten men, when Simon Jones was sent off. First he was booked for the initial tackle and then while Emley were arranging the wall, the linesman alerted the referee to an incident that had taken place off the ball involving Marine’s Dave Thompson. The referee had no hesitation in showing Jones a second yellow card and sent off the Emley number 3 off. From the subsequent free kick by John Gautrey fired over from 30 yards.

Emley still tried to increase their one goal advantage despite being down to ten men. Again it was Nazha who was again at the heart of the action. After some good work down the left he turned the Marine full back inside-out but could not end the run with a shot that was equally impressive, on the stroke of half time.

The second half saw Marine trying to push their numerical advantage. In the opening minutes of the half Marine won two corners in quick succession but were unable to finish on either occasion.

Marines push for the equalising goal cost them dear. Day turned provider in the 61st minute when his far post cross found Bambrook unmarked, he rifled home past the unfortunate Marine keeper Chris Clarke.

Marine tried to push forward in search of the goal that would bring them back into the game. Any hopes that Marine had of getting back into the game evaporated, after 70 minutes, after Mark Schofield’s dismissal for a professional foul on Nazha, who was through on goal not for the first time today.

While Emley’s pursuit of the title then continues with another three points, Marine are left to ponder another defeat. A defeat that sees them being pushed into the lower half of the Unibond league. On this performance Marine probably have enough quality in their ranks to stave off relegation but they need to string some results together quickly to banish such talk of relegation and they need to do it fast. It could not get any worse for the Mariners at the moment. Next week they are at home to high flying Worksop, who boast the talents of one Chris Waddle. Lets hope he takes the penalties.

ATT- 268

* This report previously appeared on the now defunct website Pyramid Football