Marske United booked their place in the Second Round of the Brooks Mileson Memorial League Cup with a hard-fought win over Ryton and Crawcrook Albion.

Charlie Watt made the difference on a bitter evening at the John Keegan Stadium. He fired home from a dead ball inside the opening five minutes of the contest.

Ryton were aggressive in their pursuit of parity, though created little to trouble Mike Algie in a game of very few chances.

A bitterly cold evening on the Teesside coast, it was Marske who started by far the better of the two sides.

Leo Robinson forced Callum Corky to save with an outstretched leg, soon winning the free kick Charlie Watt dispatched to see the Seasiders into an early lead.

Tyler Goodman came the closest to adding to the tally ahead of the break. He cut inside and curled into the grasp of the Ryton shot-stopper, before Leo Robinson fired wide from the right flank.

Ryton and Crawcrook grew into the contest at the minutes ticked by. Keros Lizinde was twice thwarted by Mike Algie, whilst Dan Marriott blazed over the bar.

It was the visitors who continued their pressure when play resumed after the break. Marriott again went close, this time denied by Algie at close-range. Keros Lizinde saw an effort deflected behind.

Rhys Hutchinson perhaps should have found the leveller when he nodded wide in time and space. Callum Johnston beat Mike Algie on the edge of his box, though the shot-stopper recovered well to thwart him.

Marske weren’t without chances of their own in an admittedly quiet second period. Tom Marron thumped an effort wide from distance, whilst James Rowe couldn’t squeeze the ball home from a corner.

Leo Robinson lead a breakaway in the dying moments. The young forward elected to go alone, scuffing his effort across the face of goal, and behind.