Marine 1 Gateshead 3

Unibond League, Saturday 18th August 2001

Marine manager Roly Howard’s’ thirtieth year in charge started inauspiciously today with a home defeat against Gateshead.

It was Gateshead who enjoyed the better of the first half and could have taken the lead as early as the second minute. Ricky Bainbridge’s challenge cancelled out Gateshead’s lively midfielder Steve Agnew’s effort. Nine minutes later Gateshead’s Steve Preen managed to get a shot on goal, which the Marine keeper Chris Clarke fumbled but he managed to recover himself well to palm the ball away from the on rushing Rob Painter and Richie Alderson.

There was no let up for Marine from the constant Gateshead pressure and on 18 minutes Rob Painter thought he had put the North easterners into the lead but he was adjudged to be offside.

After dominating the opening quarter a Gateshead goal was inevitable and it was no surprise when it came on 22 minutes. Following a good knock down by Rob Painter who played in the effervescent Steve Preen but his shot brought out the best of Chris Clarke in the Marine goal. He pushed the shot around the post. From the resulting corner Preen popped up at the front post to header Gateshead into a one – nil lead

It went from bad to worse two minutes later for Marine. A flowing move by Gateshead ended with Rob Jones powering a header against the crossbar. Marine keeper had seemingly gathered the ball only for it to inexplicably squirm from his grasp under no pressure, to the feet of Alderson who was left with the easiest of chances to put Gateshead two up.

The game continued in a similar vein until half time with constant pressure from Gateshead but they could not add to their two-goal lead. Marine did have one notable chance with John Morgan going close for the home side.

In the second half Marine gave a better account of themselves but they could not turn their possession into meaningful chances. Gateshead where content to sit back and defend their two goal cushion but also had the odd chance to increase their lead with Alderson having a shot saved by the Marine keeper Clarke.

With twenty minutes remaining the game was finally put beyond Marine when Rob Painter put Gateshead three up following Paul Talbot’s in swinging corner. Two minutes later Steve Preen nearly doubled his contribution for the day but on this occasion Chris Clarke atoned for his earlier errors.

With the game seemingly beyond them Marine went in search of a consolation goal that would lend the score line a little bit of credibility. The home faithful who had endured a pretty exasperating afternoon had further cause to be frustrated when the official waved away two perfectly legitimate claims for penalties.

Marine’s second half endeavours were rewarded with a goal five minutes from time. The goal came gift wrapped by the Gateshead goalkeeper Adrian Swann, who did not want to be left out of the goalkeeping blunder of the day competition. Under no pressure, Swan rolled the ball out to no one in particular; Marine’s Richie Townsend intercepted the ball and lobbed the ball over the stranded Swan and into the net from twenty-five yards.

All in all Gateshead looked quite impressive and should be there or there about this season. If they can keep hold of the lively Steve Preen he should get the goals to fire them to the top of the table. Marine boss Roly Howard talked in midweek of the struggle that his side would face this season and on this performance, you would have to say it’s going to be a long hard winter a Rossett Park.

ATT: 279

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