Scarborough Athletic’s FA Trophy hopes sunk by late Marine strike

Marine created a couple of early chances, as Jack Dunn played a low ball into the Boro box, and Sol Solomon fired wide, then keeper Joe Cracknell blocked a shot from Dunn, writes Steve Adamson.

Kieran Weledji fired just over in Boro’s first attack, then on 19 minutes Cracknell pushed over a volley from Dunn.

But from the resulting corner, Cracknell and Dunn crashed into each other, and the Marine centre-forward was stretchered off after sustaining a knee injury.

Bailey Gooda had a superb game at the back for Boro, winning everything in the air, and he also threw his body in the way of a fierce shot from Solomon.

Boro’s best move of the game saw their in-form midfielder Kieran Glynn lay-off to Luca Colville, who curled a shot towards the top left corner, but home keeper Bayleigh Passant pulled off a terrific diving save to tip the ball over, and from the corner by Ryan Watson, Weledji fired narrowly over.

A mass scuffle broke out after a foul on Colville as tempers became frayed, and shortly before the interval, first Lucas Weir shot into the Boro side-netting, then at the other end, Colville had a strike blocked by a home defender.

Boro were on top for much of the second half, without really testing keeper Passant.

Dan Bramall latched on to a fabulous ball from Glynn, cut in from the left, and fired narrowly wide, then a long throw into the area from Ash Jackson, was headed on by Gooda towards Kieran Burton, whose shot was blocked.

Bramall received another defence-splitting pass from Glynn, but his shot was charged down by Jordan Lussey.

A long kick upfield from Cracknell landed at Bramall’s feet, and he laid off to Colville, who shot inches past the post.

Marine’s Solomon then sent a 20-yard free kick round the wall, but straight at Cracknell.

Glynn flicked a pass forward to Brad Plant, who set off on a mazy dribble past three defenders before being closed down by the onrushing keeper, and Lewis Maloney had a free-kick pushed round the post by Passant, then from the corner by Maloney, Colville’s header was blocked by a defender.

A long-throw from Jackson fell to Dom Tear, who tried an over-head kick, that was easily dealt with by Passant.

Despite dominating possession, Boro had only managed two shots on target in the game , and they were made to pay late on, when substitute Mo Touray, who had been on the pitch less than a minute, placed his shot just inside the right-hand post, from the edge of the area, with his first touch of the ball.

The nearest to a last gasp equaliser was when Jackson had a shot charged down by Lussey in stoppage time, as Boro’s hopes of Wembley ended at the first hurdle yet again.

MARINE- Passant, Clark (Touray 81), Smith, Lussey, Wardle, Spittle, Weir (Campbell 69), Doyle, Dunn (Evans 20), Solomon, BarriganBORO- Cracknell, Weledji, Jackson, Burton, Gooda, Heslop (Coulson 84), Colville, Watson, Plant (Maloney 70), Glynn, Bramall (Tear 59)REFEREE- Shaun TaylorGOAL- MARINE- Mo Touray 82YELLOW CARDS- MARINE- Lucas Weir, Jon Spittle, James Barrigan, Luke Clark, Neil Young (manager) BORO- Kieran GlynnBORO MAN OF MATCH- Bailey GoodaATTENDANCE- 1,144 (150 away)