Marine march on as play-off race intensifies

On his first Mariners start, Owen Winsor struck early to set them on their way to all three points, with Bobby Grant scoring in either half and Owen Robinson also adding his name to the scoresheet as they recorded a fifth successive home win in all competitions.

Saturday's result, the perfect response to their 3-2 defeat at league leaders Radcliffe seven days earlier, moved Neil Young's side up to second, 16 points adrift of the Northern Premier League's title-chasers.

And with a difficult assignment away at Macclesfield this coming Saturday, Young was keen to get the job done against a Bradford side struggling at the wrong end of the division.

Reflecting on the match, he said: "We started lively and scored after a couple of minutes - a great finish by Owen Winsor.

"I thought we were very good then for 20/25 minutes, scored again and probably could've had a couple more. Then I thought we lost our way a little bit. They were getting through the middle of us too easily and had a couple of opportunities.

"We did well to reorganise, then in the second half, we saw the game out really. I don't remember Bobby having too much to do.

"You only have to look at Bradford's recent results - a draw against Ashton, beating Rylands. They're on a good run and play some decent football, but we were aggressive and on the front foot.

"Apart from those 20 minutes before half-time when they were on top, I thought we generally bossed the game."

Marine had started the weekend fourth in the league table but climbed two places after the teams above them, Hyde United and Warrington Rylands, both fell to defeat.

Hyde suffered a late 2-1 defeat at Whitby Town, while 10-man Rylands were dealt a heavy 4-1 home defeat by Gainsborough Trinity in their first game since the departure of manager Michael Clegg to Macclesfield.

The trio are separated by just two points as the season run-in continues, with several teams lurking just below them.

Macclesfield remain in the final play-off spot - despite Saturday's trip to Atherton Collieries being called off after a late pitch inspection.

As a result, Worksop Town and Guiseley had the chance to leapfrog the Silkmen last weekend. However, both fell to defeat at home to Bamber Bridge and away at Stafford Rangers respectively.

Lancaster City remain with an outside chance of reaching the play-offs, as do Whitby Town, although their 1-1 draw on the Yorkshire Coast on Tuesday night did little to aid the prospects of either side.

There remain a number of pivotal encounters in the race for a top-five spot before the regular season concludes.

Aside from this weekend, Warrington Rylands and Hyde United will meet on Saturday 23 March, while Marine are also set to visit The Hive Arena on Monday 1 April.

Macclesfield are also still yet to visit Worksop Town and Hyde, before making the trip to Whitby Town on the final weekend of the 2023/24 campaign.

Photo credit: Darren Murphy