Marske manager Graeme Lee opted for a 3-4-3 formation which meant four changes to the team that lost to Ashton.

Into the team came Matty Cornish, impressive as a substitute against Ashton, Jason Kennedy, Jake Hackett and Adam Boyes in place of Josh MacDonald, Tavonga Kuleya and Donald Chimalilo, who all dropped to the bench and AJ Greaves who departed the club after just one appearance.

The game kicked off slightly late due to Bamber Bridge being delayed in traffic on the M62. The first chance of the game was a golden one, and it fell to the home side.

Eddie Church, playing in a front three along with Nathan Thomas and Boyes, played a lovely ball to Boyes who outpaced the Brig defence and with only keeper James Pradic, on loan from Preston North End, to beat Boyes tried an audacious lob but Pradic claimed the ball and the chance was gone.

There was a long delay while Hackett was treated after a kick in the face left him bloodied, but no free kick was awarded by referee David Pill. Hackett eventually returned to the field of play but there followed another long delay while Jack Baxter was treated for an injury to his ankle.

A few minutes later, it was decided that a groggy Hackett could no longer continue and he was replaced by MacDonald with MacDonald going on to the right hand side of the midfield four, with Cornish swapping to the left.

On 20 minutes, and excellent move involving Cornish, MacDonald and Boyes ended with Kennedy crossing to Church, who headed just wide. Two minutes later a cross-shot from MacDonald was saved by the legs of Pradic.

At the other end, a shot from Harry Scarborough was saved at the near post by Nathan Harker. From the ensuing corner there was a massive scramble but Marske eventually managed to clear their lines.

The away side suffered a blow of their own on 26 minutes when Baxter was unable to continue and was replaced by Danny Forbes. Marske took the lead on 32 minutes when neat play in defence ended with MacDonald playing a long ball to Boyes, who broke the offside trap, raced into the box and made no mistake this time, smashing the ball past Pradic.

As so often happens, when a team scores a goal they are at their most vulnerable and Marske conceded within 60 seconds. An initial excellent tackle by a Marske defender made no difference as Harry Benns picked up the loose ball and scored with a fine, low shot into the far corner. Marske countered and Nathan Thomas saw a cross deflected to Pradic, who saved at the second attempt.

With 5 minutes until half time, Boyes played in Church, who made a great run into the box, but his shot drew an outstanding save from Pradic at the near post. In the first minutes of added on time, Josh Robertson allowed the tricky Danny Edwards to beat him too easily but the shot from distance went just over the bar.

At the other end, an excellent cross from Thomas from a bobbling ball found Kennedy but his header was deflected wide by a combination of keeper and defender. From the resulting corner, Kev Burgess headed onto the top of the bar.

Half Time: Marske 1 Bamber Bridge 1

The first action of the second half saw Michael Potts for Brig cautioned for a tug on Church in midfield. There ensued a battle for midfield with neither team able to get control of the game.

On 57 minutes, Cornish did superbly to cut inside but his shot was sliced well wide. Four minutes later, MacDonald became the first Marske player to be booked for a foul out wide level with the penalty area but the resulting free kick came to nothing.

There followed a third and fourth booking in quick succession with Brig’s Benns cautioned for a blatant shove on Thomas, which was followed by a yellow card for Marske skipper Burgess.

With 19 minutes left, Marske made their second change with Robertson replaced by Lewis Leech. There was a moment of controversy on 74 minutes when Marske believed they had taken the lead through Thomas but the assistant referee’s flag was up for offside, a decision that was met with fury by the Marske supporters in the “Chicken Run”.

A minute later, a fierce shot from Adam Dodd was deflected behind for a corner by Kennedy. Bamber Bridge came even closer to taking the lead a minute later when an effort from Edwards, following a great run, ended with a shot that appeared to be deflected onto the outside of the post.

With 13 minutes left, Marske made their final change with Thomas replaced by Chimalilo. With 10 minutes left, Marske were awarded a penalty when a cross from the left was handled by Forbes, and referee Pill pointed to the spot.

Boyes stepped up to take the penalty and made no mistake, sending Pradic the wrong way. With 4 minutes left, Marske made the game safe as Boyes claimed a hat-trick. Chimalilo played a great ball forward to Boyes who raced towards goal, made an excellent tackle against Macauley Wilson to retain the ball and curled a shot from 15 yards past Pradic.

On 90 minutes, great play from Chimalilo saw him beat his man on the outside and cross into the box, where Church saw his header cleared off the line by Wilson.

Adam Dodd became the fifth player to be booked for a cynical foul on Chimalilo, before the last action of the game saw Wilson curl a free kick over the bar as Marske claimed a deserved first win of the season.

Full Time: Marske 3 Bamber Bridge 1

Teams:
Marske: Harker, Cornish, Myers, Kennedy, Burgess, Dale, Thomas (Chimalilo), Robertson (Leech), Boyes, Church, Hackett (MacDonald)
Subs (not used): Cunningham, Kuleya

Bamber Bridge: Pradic, Benns, Thompson (Spencer-McDermott), Squires, Wilson, Baxter (Forbes), Edwards, Potts, Cullen (Bayode), Scarborough, Dodd
Sub (not used): Butterworth

Marske United Man of The Match: Adam Boyes

Match Report by Mark Hathaway, Photo Credit Janette Ruddock