A 3-0 defeat and a fourth red card of the season saw the Lions dumped out of the Emirates FA Cup at the first hurdle, writes Ivor Timmis.
The Lions took the field with a patched-up team including Leigh Whelan and Josh Ashman as makeshift full backs in a 4-4-2 formation. The early headline was that the Lions had only two subs: a goalkeeper, Hagie Damba, and a player still recovering from injury, Joe Stacey.
The Lions got off to the worst possible start when, with barely two minutes on the clock, slack defending from a throw in left Manesse Mampala free inside the box to slot home neatly from an angle.
To the Lions’ credit, there was an immediate response as Tom Pratt was sent through one v one with Felix Goddard but he couldn’t find a finish.
On 10 minutes Ollie Battersby allowed himself to be closed down with the ball at his feet but he redeemed himself with a sharp save from the rebound.
In contrast to Saturday, it was a lively and open encounter. The Lions played a high defensive line once gaining an offside decision a yard inside their own half. There was risk in this tactic: Marine knocked some dangerous balls into the space behind and it took some last ditch defending and alert goalkeeping to avoid conceding. On the other hand, it allowed us to attack more than we had on Saturday, with more controlled possession and chances.
One such chance resulted when Danny Devine found Tom Denton at the far post. His header was cleared back to him, but he failed to find the net from close range. Denton then laid off to Devine whose shot was straight at the keeper when he might have done better. Meanwhile, Marine carried a constant threat moving the ball from side to side and finding clever combinations. It took a quite superb save from Battersby from a close range volley to keep the Lions in the game.
Half time arrived with Marine a goal up and looking dangerous, but with the Lions playing much better than Saturday and looking capable of a goal themselves.
Early in the second half, Miguel Valsau (who was making his full senior Lions debut), not for the first time, drove impressively at the Marine defence but finished weakly.
At the other end, Battersby came out of his area to head clear and the ball was eventually scrambled away. On 61 minutes, quick thinking by the industrious Kallan Murphy sent Pratt clear into the box and his low cross was met on the stretch by Denton at the near post but he couldn’t get any power into his finish.
It was to be the Lions’ last chance of getting back into the match. Minutes later the Lions only half cleared a free kick and Louis White drove an unstoppable left foot shot from just outside the area into the top right corner.
To compound matters, on the 75th minute, Pratt was shown a red card for a late challenge right in front of the dugouts, leading to a brief and predictable melee involving players from both sides. It then became a matter of damage limitation.
On 80 minutes, Sol Soleman was put through by a neat one two and he fired home into the far corner, but the excellent Battersby prevented any further goals.
For around 65 minutes, the Lions played with spirit and purpose, but a 3-0 defeat and a red card is very deflating in any circumstances. With four or five players back from injury or suspension at Bamber Bridge on Saturday, everyone will be hoping for a change of fortune.
Match report sponsored by Venture House Group
Marine 3-0 Guiseley | Tuesday 5th September 2023 | Marine Travel Arena
Attendance: 582
Team: 1. Ollie Battersby, 2. Aiden Walker, 3. Josh Ashman, 4. Leigh Whelan, 5. Jameel Ible (C), 6. Prince Ekpolo, 7. Tom Pratt, 8. Danny Devine, 9. Tom Denton, 10. Kallan Murphy and 11. Miguel Valsau.
Subs: 12. Joe Stacey & 14. Hagie Damba (GK).
