MARINE 1, ASHTON UNITED 1
Former Marine striker Keilen Adams popped up two minutes from time to rescue a point for visitors Ashton United in front of a bumper crowd of 1,403 at the Marine Travel Arena.
It was a good result for the Robins as the Mariners are seventh in Northern Premier League, premier and only three points outside the play-off spots.
Meanwhile, Ashton have slipped to 14th and are only six points clear of the bottom-four relegation places, yet also only nine away from the top five.
Cole Lonsdale was restored on the left side of the Robins’ defence with Matty Regan moving into midfield.
It was the Mariners making first inroads on their plastic pitch as Josh Solomon-Davies’s header sent Mo Touray towards goal from where his return ball was sliced out of play by the full back.
Solomon-Davies was then penalised for pulling down Jack McKay with Dale Whitham volleying Sam Baird’s header over the bar. Adams then took down a left wing cross and fired wide on the turn with the resulting corner being cleared and.
At the other end, Jonny Spittle’s header was cleared away from the goal line by Whitham before Solomon-Davies’ cross was touched onto the bar by keeper Andre Mendes.
On the half hour, an incisive run through midfield by Andy Scarisbrick saw his left foot effort well diverted for a corner by Mendes and Touray’s break from midfield saw his fierce effort denied at the near post as the hosts increased the pressure.
The Robins made a couple of changes at the break and the second period opened with a throw-in reaching James Baillie who just cleared the crossbar and after Jack McKay had won a corner Nathan Lowe’s delivery was cleared to McKay who side footed over.
Lowe then caught hold of an effort from 25 yards which required Bayleigh Passant to fist it away and soon after substitute Rob Guilfoyle was denied at the foot of the post by the Mariners’ keeper.
With 17 minutes remaining the breakthrough arrived as Touray’s chipped pass into the area saw Scarisbrick fire into the far corner.
But with time running out, a fine pass sent McKay to the by line and his pinpoint cross was headed home close in by a jubilant Adams. A loose ball then dropped for Lowe to drag it wide of goal before Solomon-Davies sent a cross all the way across the Ashton area as the game ended in stalemate.
Ashton United: Mendes, Baillie (Hobson 76), Newton, Baird, Regan, Lonsdale (Milner 46), Gilchrist (Guilfoyle 46), Whitham, Adams, Lowe, McKay. Subs (not used): Hough, Bunney.
Report: David Robinson.