Marine 2 Stalybridge Celtic 0

Saturday 13th January 2001, Umbro FA Trophy 3rd Round

Marine continued their impressive winning run in 2001, with a comprehensive victory over high flying Unibond league side Stalybridge Celtic.

Marine certainly were not overawed by their opponents and why should they, having seen off Everton in midweek in the Liverpool Senior Cup.

Stalybridge, who prior to today had only lost one league game all season, put Marine under pressure from the opening moments of the game. Marine’s goalkeeper Chris Clarke, had to be alert when Stalybridge’s Matthew McNeil was put through on goal after two minutes. The Marine keeper saved bravely but could not keep hold of the ball, luckily it fell to Marine’s Gary Randles, who managed to clear his lines.

Marine managed to contain the early Stalybridge spell of pressure and even started to carve out chances of their own, prompted by the impressive Gerrard Courtney, who was at the heart of most of Marine’s attacks. Marine tried to pass the ball, despite playing on a pitch which had been hardened by the overnight frost.

Twelve minutes into the game, Marine had an appeal for a penalty waved away by the referee much to the annoyance of the home fans, after Kevin Formby was brought down inside the box. Moments later the Home supporters patience was tested further, following a two footed challenge by Stalybridge’s Matthew McNeil which went undetected by the referee.

On the half hour mark, Brian Burns broke down the left and put in Gerald Courtney who fired over the bar. Two minutes later, an identical move saw Courtney cushion a header just past the left hand post after a cross by Kevin Formby.

Stalybridge’s response was swift when on 34 minutes Tony Sullivan found himself one on one with the Marine goalkeeper but Sullivan put his shot over the advancing keeper and the bar.

Down the other end of the field, Marine fullback Ian Baines found himself in unfamiliar territory when he was put through with the keeper to beat. Stalybridge’s Stuart Locke appeared to clear the ball off the boot of Ian Baines, just as he was about to shoot goal wards. The referee inexplicably never saw the interception and only awarded a goal kick to Stalybridge.

The second half started in a subdued manner with both teams midfields stamping their authority on the game, this lull was soon banished, when on 57 minutes Marine took the lead following a spectacular lob by Marine’s top scorer Dave Gamble. The shot came out of nothing and in all probability it was a cross for the advancing Marine striker at the back post.

The goal sparked Stalybridge back to life and on 60 minutes, Marine goalkeeper Chris Clarke showed his bravery again when he denied Tony Sullivan who was again put through on goal. From the resulting corner substitute Nigel Evans, who had only been on the field a minute sent a header goal wards only for Marine’s Ian Baines to clear of the line.

The Marine defence stood firm in the face of constant Stalybridge pressure but still Stalybridge could not find an equaliser. Even though since Marine’s first goal, Stalybridge had been camped inside Marine’s half.

Dave Gamble looked to add to his earlier strike on 78 minutes with an equally impressive strike from long range but on this occassion he fired high and wide of the cross bar. Marine finally killed off the tie with six minutes to go, after good work by Marine number Seven Courtney who fed in Gary Randles who rifled a shot into the corner of the net.

Though Stalybridge were a disappointment considering their high flying position this is taking nothing away from Marine who at last seem to be putting a decent run together and put behind them the inconsistencies and the last few months. Marine were certainly good value for their two goal victory today.

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