Marske struggle to stay in league

By Mark Hathaway

Marske continue to struggle in the League with a return to Step 4 of the Non League System looking a possibility with the Seasiders marooned in the bottom four in the Northern Premier League Premier Division.

Marske’s record breaking run in the FA Trophy ended in no uncertain terms when they were well beaten in the 4th Round, losing 7-1 to Conference North side Farsley Celtic with Kev Burgess grabbing Marske’s consolation. Despite the defeat, Marske can be proud that they were the last remaining Northern Premier League team in the competition as well as reaching the 4th Round for the first time in the club’s history.

Next up was a trip to Greater Manchester to face Ashton United in the League, with Marske looking to do the double over them. Marske gave a debut to midfielder George Horbury, signed on loan from League Two Harrogate Town. Marske fell behind just after the half hour mark when Kielen Adams gave the hosts the lead. However, Marske battled back quickly and drew level just two minutes later thanks to a fine finish from Donald Chimalilo. Early in the second half, Marske took the lead thanks to a fine finish from the edge of the box from debutant Horbury, which gave Marske their second victory under the management of Curtis Woodhouse.

The following Saturday saw Marske make one of their longest trips of the season to face Stafford. The home side took the lead when goalkeeper Michael Roxburgh kept a cross in play which he could have let go out and when the ball was recycled Jack Baxter scored with a fine finish. Despite a double change at half time, Marske were unable to create any opportunities and the home side doubled their lead when Roxburgh could only push a long throw into his own net. With the games coming thick and fast, Marske made the relatively short trip the following Tuesday to face South Shields, where Marske gave a debut to Niah Payne, signed on loan from Spennymoor. Marske got off to the dream start in the opening minute thanks to a fine strike from the edge of the box from Horbury. The home side drew level on 22 minutes when Alex Storey was penalised for a foul in the penalty area and Robert Briggs made no mistake from the spot. The home side took the lead 4 minutes later when Jordy Mongoy broke quickly from a Marske corner and finished well. With Roxburgh making some fine saves to keep Marske in the game, the away side were rewarded with an equaliser on 61 minutes thanks to a fine individual strike from Chimalilo. However, Marske couldn’t hold on for a point as the superior quality of Shields shone through with a double from Darius Osei sealing a 4-2 win.

February started with a home game against Guiseley, who Marske had beaten earlier in the season. Marske gave a debut to 19 year old loan signing Aflie Doherty, signed from Middlesbrough as well as 19 year Ethan Bojang, formerly with Gainsborough Trinity as Marske lined up with a midfield trio all 20 years old or younger. Unfortunately, the home side dominated the first half and went into the break 2 goals to the good. Marske pulled a goal back early in the second half thanks to a fine strike from the edge of the box from Doherty. Marske were on top and looking likelier to equalise but were hit by a killer blow on 73 minutes when a free kick from the right from George Smith evaded everyone and nestled into the far corner of the net. It was 4-1 four minutes later when Roxburgh could only parry a shot which allowed Lewis Whitham the easy task of slotting home the rebound. Despite a consolation from Adam Boyes, Marske fell to another defeat. The following Tuesday Marske made the trip to Lincolnshire to face Gainsborough and, yet again, conceded a goal in the opening minutes of the game. Marske countered and a superb run from George Horbury allowed Boyes to equalise on 18 minutes. The key moment of the game arrived 2 minutes later when Jorge Sikora was dismissed for the denial of an obvious goalscoring opportunity, leaving Marske a mountain to climb playing 70 minutes with 10 men.

The Seasiders looked as if they were going to get to half time level but conceded in the third minute of injury time to go into the break 2-1 behind. Marske fought back in the second half and equalised again early in the second half thanks to a second goal of the game from Boyes. However, that was as good as it got for Marske who struggled to deal with the movement of the Gainsborough forwards, in particular ex-League striker Clayton Donaldson as the home side ran in a further 4 goals without reply to run out 6-2 winners.

Marske were back at home the following Saturday with Hyde making the trip to Marske. In front of an excellent crowd of 512, Marske were able to welcome back Burgess and Andrew May from injury and looked much more solid in the first half, going into the break 0-0. However, Hyde took the lead early in the second half when a snapshot from Liam Tongue from the edge of the box surprised Roxburgh. It was 2-0 on 75 minutes