Marine 1-1 FC United

Source: Crosby Herald

Apr 8 2010 by Our Correspondent, Crosby Herald

A SCRAMBLED goal from Liam Rushton deep into stoppage time rescued a deserved point for Marine in a tense encounter at the Arriva Stadium.

Marine were looking to extend their unbeaten to ten matches in front of a bumper Bank Holiday crowd but this was a poor performance from Kevin Lynch’s men who failed to raise their game against the self appointed rebels of Manchester United.

Lynch was careful not to make excuses after their game but agreed that his side may have been a little overawed by both the occasion and hostile United fans.

He said: “We are a young team but you should never get stage fright if you want to be a footballer. It’s why you play the game, to play football in occasions like this and you should want to play at a higher level. Sometimes you’ve just got to grow a pair of you-know-what’s and today I thought we were a bit caught in the headlights.”

Both teams struggled with awful conditions throughout the opening as torrential rain swept across the pitch, but it was United who settled the better, as they slowly took control of the game with their patient and attractive football.

Sadly the same admiration could not extend to United’s fans and amid some unsavory chanting from both sets of supporters, police and stewards were forced to eject a number of people from the ground

It took until the last minute of the half for their possession to pay off when a deep corner from Carlos Roca saw a far post header from captain, David Chadwick cross the line after a fumble from keeper, Tim Dittmer and a poor attempted clearance from the defender on the line.

The second half saw Marine improve but chances for Jonathan Goulding and Thomas Moore came and went while Roca went close with a fine curling effort for United.

The team in red, who were set up by fans disenchanted with the Old Trafford side’s takeover by the American Glazer family, were satisfied with looking for the breakaway goal, content to play one up front and leaving the superb Cypriot, Angelos Tsiaklis to control midfield.

Marine though are made of strong stuff as their recent record of late goals has shown and with ten minutes remaining, the Whites’ pressure was incessant, Moore wasting their best chance after rounding the keeper, his goal bound effort cleared off the line by defender James Holden.

Steve Hussey was next to go close, his right footed placement prompting a fine finger tip save from the flying Sam Ashton. From the resultant corner Moore headed back across goal to Rainford who stumbled over the ball from five yards. Two further corners saw headers scrambled away by the United defence.

With only minutes on the clock, United paid the price for their time wasting tactics as the referee added extra time on following some painfully slow substitutions.

A minimum of three minutes injury time turned into five, and the Marine goal finally came when a long range shot was turned in from close range by teenager Liam Rushton, ensuring the points were shared.

Marine: Tim Dittmer, Shaun Callacher, Ian Latham (Liam Rushton), Michael Jackson ©, John Shaw, Steven Hussey, Jamie Rainford, Joe Fowler (Jonathan Goulding), Thomas Moore, Lloyd Ellams (Stephen Brown), Sean Doherty.

Subs not used; Joe McMahon, Peter Cumiskey.

FC United of Manchester: Sam Ashton, James Holden, Ludovic Quistin, Angelos Tsiaklis, David Chadwick ©, Nick Swirad, Chris Ovington (Gage Eme), Cedric Krou, Phil Marsh, Jerome Wright (Ben Morris), Carlos Roca (Joe Yoffe).

Subs not used; Jamie Mack, Mark Ayres.