Droylsden downed by Marine

BetVictor North West: Marine 3-1 Droylsden

This was a spirited performance from a much changed Droylsden team against one of the promotion favourites in difficult conditions on the Sefton coast.

The home team took the lead on 24 minutes, captain Niall Cummins first to pounce on a loose ball from a corner and striking home from six yards.

Elliot Wynne had earlier kept Marine at bay saving from close range from Howard while a quick free kick from the home side bobbled through the crowded box hitting the post before being collected by the keeper.

A quickly taken free kick at the other end nearly gave the Bloods an equaliser but Atherton managed to grab the ball ahead of the stretching Clooney.

Wynne was called into action again saving from  Lussey as Marine pressed for a second while Danny Shaw’s header from a corner narrowly cleared the crossbar.

Sam Oliver thought he had equalised direct from a corner as the Marine defender managed to clear the ball off the line but at the other end it was Wynne again to the rescue saving brilliantly low to his left to deny Howard.

Dom Smith came on for Rhys Clooney at half time and four minutes into the half the striker levelled for the Bloods, his strike from the edge of the area finding the bottom corner of the goal.

Bloods began to take control of the game but despite a lot of possession were limited to two long range efforts by Kyle Wych.

But the visitors got themselves back in the match through a great move down the right by Solomon Davies whose cross was converted by Howard on 66 minutes.

The Bloods had a great chance though for an equaliser, Dom Smith breaking down the left and finding Domaine Rouse whose shot was saved by the keeper to his left.

At the other end Wynne again kept the home side out, this time saving from substitute Miley.

Deep into stoppage time, Cummins secured the points for the home side tapping in from close range.

By Nigel Barlow