A first half Rob Ramshaw brace sank Marine as Spennymoor Town took the spoils, writes Tom Gardiner at the Marine Travel Arena.
Bobby Grant’s side started the day in eighth place in the Northern Premier League, two points ahead of their opponents. But this defeat saw the Mariners drop to 11th.
The opener came in the third minute, with winger Junior Mondal teeing up Ramshaw with an incisive through ball. The forward poked his finish beneath goalkeeper Fraser Barnsley to give his side the lead.
Marine struggled to sustain any pressure. Their first corner came in the 13th minute. Much to the home support’s disappointment, it was wasted with a poor floated delivery.
Shortly after Marine were on the back foot once more. Right back Adam Anson lost a tackle, allowing Mondal to drive to the byline for his cross to be headed over the bar by Marine captain Josh Wardle.
The resulting corner required the intervention of Everton loanee Odin Samuels-Smith, with his goal line clearance preventing the visitors going further ahead.
After 25 minutes, Ramshaw did indeed double Spennymoor’s advantage. Barnsley got a hand to the strike, but the ball tricked into the far corner.
Five minutes later, Marine mustered their best effort. Bailey Marsden’s lobbed pass found Fin Sinclair-Smith, whose volley whistled over the crossbar.
The rain came down in the second half and Marine struggled to break through the Spennymoor defence.
Sinclair-Smith’s trickery earned multiple corners for his team, but to no avail.
A swift breakaway from the visitors forced Barnsley into a firm save, giving the home supporters a rare reason to cheer.
Time wasting frustrated the 1,126 in attendance, but the travelling fans didn’t care as Spennymoore protected their lead and left Merseyside with all three points.
Marine travel to 17th placed Bedford on Saturday 20 December.
