MAGIC MARSKE MARCHING ON!
MAGNIFICENT Marske United ensured that the recent northern dominance continued in the FA Vase as they advanced into the semi-finals.
The Northern League club triumphed over their highflying Hellenic League hosts in front of a bumper crowd.
However, the three-goal winning margin did not reflect the closeness of the game for large parts, especially in the congested midfield area.
The visitors struck at crucial times, netting the opener in the final minute of the first half before adding the second with 20 minutes left at a stage of the match where the next goal was vital.
A third goal late on, with the hosts pushing for a way back into the contest, put the gloss on victory and proved that they were right to be labelled as favourites to win the competition, just one round short now of a potential Wembley final clash.
Despite their unfamiliarity with the Robins’ 3G pitch, the north Yorkshire side started brightly, forcing an early save from goalkeeper Chris Grace, tipping over in only the second minute.
At the other end, it was not TJ Bohane’s day with the otherwise prolific Bracknell striker firing wide right after a hanging cross landed at his feet. He then had a free header from a free-kick but could only pick out goalkeeper Robert Dean.
Bohane was duly punished in first-half stoppage time when Glen Butterworth fired the visitors in front – finding himself with the ball after Jamie McClurg had conceded possession and his 20-yard effort flew into the bottom corner.
Buoyed by this, Marske were the better side after the break but the hosts continued to battle away and another great chance went begging when Joe Gater climbed highest to meet a free-kick but he headed over with a whole lot of the goal to aim at.
Curtis Round hooked wide right before his strike partner Daniel Earl raced clear oneon-one but was denied by a tremendous save by Grace’s legs.
Eventually, though, the second goal came on 70 minutes – Chay Liddle’s quick free-kick catching the hosts off guard and allowed the unmarked Round to run in and finish well.
Earl dummied after Gater had slipped and Gott struck the pos, but Marske added a killer third goal two minutes from time when Earl got behind the defence to finish coolly and cap a fine and deserved victory, albeit with a rather flattering scoreline.