Two second half goals from Paul Gedman sent Marine tumbling out of the FA Cup on Saturday, the Crosby side losing 2-1 at Unibond First Division North side Salford City to exit at the first hurdle for the third season in succession.
Salford are currently bottom of their division but have performed well in the cup, beating Skelmersdale in the last round and now deservedly taking the scalp of the Mariners, being the better team over the 90 minutes although there is no hiding that this was a poor display from the Whites, being unable to rise to the occasion in front of a good turnout of Mariners led by the efforts of the travelling Stand Band.
Manager Kevin Lynch handed debuts to experienced goalkeeper Jamie Speare and young Dean Astbury but Marine never really got going until they were two goals down, following the introduction of Peter Cumiskey and Neil Prince off the bench.
The first half was a scrappy affair with Marine’s approach play looking tidy but without any real end product, their only sight of goal coming early on when Joe McMahon got on the end of a corner to direct a header wide of the target.
Salford got stronger as the half wore on, Gedman shooting just over from 25 yards in the early exchanges before Rhodri Giggs had the ball in the net, the effort being chalked off for offside.
Giggs came the closest to a goal for either side with a couple of chances just before half time, firing in a powerful volley which Speare plucked out of the air at full stretch before embarking on a mazy run which resulted in his shot being blocked.
Speare was in action again early in the second half, producing a great double save to deny Gedman at the far post but the Ammies took the lead on 58 minutes, a free kick from the right being met by Gedman at the near post to score with a well directed header in to the opposite corner.
It was 2-0 on 70 minutes when a low cross from the right found Gedman unmarked in the middle, the former Hyde man bundling the ball home despite Speare’s best efforts to keep it out.
Galvanised by the second goal and a couple of substitutions Marine came back strongly with Steve Hussey and Jamie Rainford bringing brave saves from Andrew Robertson in the City goal, blocking goal bound shots at the feet of the visiting players.
86 minutes were on the clock when Marine grabbed their goal to give themselves a chance of a replay, Kieran Molyneux doing well to fire in a rasping effort from a tight angle, Robertson parrying but Cumiskey being on hand to toe poke the ball in to the net.
Sadly for Marine it was too little too late as Salford held firm from a number of corners to take their place in the next round.
Salford City: Andrew Robertson, Gary Sampson (Ashley Kelly 78), Alex Mortimer (Cap), Patrice Mondon-Konan, Carl Ruffer, Russell Courtney, Martyn Andrews, Haydn Eames, Paul Gedman (Ian Fitzpatrick 70), Rhodri Giggs (Steve Moore 85), Ged Murphy
Unused subs: Liam Foster, Joel Igenuza, Phil Baylis, Adam Pegg. Cautions: None
Marine: Jamie Speare, Joe Fowler (Kieran Molyneux 85), John Shaw, Michael Jackson, Joe McMahon, James Olsen, Stephen Johnson, Steve Hussey (Cap), Jamie Rainford, Dean Astbury (Peter Cumiskey 59), Lee Parle (Neil Prince 67)
Unused subs: Tom Grice, Wayne McDermott, Andy Brown (G/K). Cautions: Fowler, McMahon, Johnson, Cumiskey.
Referee: Mr. M. Duncan; Assistants Mr. D. McNamara, Mr. A. Parkinson
Attendance: 159
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