Match Report -
Mariners Rocked
By Debbie Taylor

A fantastic full team performance saw a fantastic win over last season's high flyers.

I had difficulty finding a parking spot at the Crosby ground (I also left my lights on, but never mind, eh?) so I almost missed the first wonder strike by Tony Sullivan. Tino latched onto a nod-down from McNeil volleying past the stretching, out of position Clarke. It was a dream start, and the Mariners were shocked into ineptitude. The side that dominated the NPL for so much of last year crumbled under almost ninety minutes of pressure.

The remainder of the half saw both Parr and Jones come agonisingly close. A handball by Schofield in the box from a Steve Jones strike was curiously adjudged not to have been a foul, or a penalty, despite vocal protests from the Celtic players and fans.

In the second half, Celtic put the game beyond Marine's reach, when McNeil pulled the ball back to a waiting, and poised, Jones. Jonah's grass-cutter left the Marine 'keeper with no chance, and several of the defenders blushing.

Evans was brought on, and immediately made an impact in his debut game, racing clear of the defence. He was unlucky to not increase Celtic's tally, as his rushed shot inched past Clarke's right post.

Sullivan sealed the game when he beat the Marine off-side trap (they were holding a position far too high up the field) to skip around the unlucky Clarke and cheekily side-foot a simple goal.

Evans almost made it four, just before the whistle, with Clarke making a case for his return in Marine's next game with a fine save to his left.