MARINE 0 BARWELL 0

MARINE’S maiden game of 2017 produced their first goalless draw of the season as they were held at home by Barwell.

Skipper Robbie Threlfall headed an early corner over the bar for the Mariners before Callum Ball was played through at the other end, the striker miscueing his finish with just Calvin Hare to beat.

Marine began to gain the upper hand and Danny Mitchley fired wide from 22 yards.

Kurt Sherlock’s low centre then found MJ Monaghan whose venomous first-time strike was instinctively tipped over by Barwell keeper Liam Castle.

Mitchley then spurned a glorious chance as the Barwell offside trap failed and Mitchley found himself clear but his shot cleared the bar by a yard as he attempted to pick his spot.

The robust Leicestershire side twice came close early in the second period as Hare brilliantly denied Callum Ball from closerange and kept out Craig Stanley’s deflected effort from distance.

In an attritional encounter with play all too often punctuated by the referee's whistle Marine were reduced to ten men with 15 minutes remaining, midfielder Billy Smart being dismissed for an offthe-ball clash.

Lee Hildreth and Luke Barlone sent headers well wide of target for the Canaries.

However, the Crosby side almost grabbed the winner with six minutes remaining as debutant substitute Matthew Hamilton fired inches wide having been played through by Kurt Sherlock.