Marine manager Neil Young praised his players for “taking the bull by the horns” as they beat Prescot Cables 3-1, days after losing to Workington.
The Workington game saw the two sides collide for the third time in little under 10 days.
An early goal proved crucial for the hosts as they set up resolutely to maintain their aspirations for promotion this season.
They faced a tough task against Clitheroe on Bank Holiday Monday which they won, but for Marine they needed to bounce back against a defiant Prescot Cables side who days previous salvaged a point in a six-goal thriller.
And thanks to a Lewis Reilly brace, including a brilliant free-kick into the top corner, and Niall Cummins who sealed the win in the dying moments, they ran out 3-1 winners.
With a game in hand, the win keeps Marine amongst the leading pack, although still early days in the Northern Premier League West after just a month of football has been played.
But for Young despite the defeat, he felt his side should they of got ann equaliser would’ve went all the way.
“I think they’re a good side, they grabbed the first goal. I just think they scored early, something we’ve done in recent games, give them something to hold on to. I think we had more of the ball we have had in the last two games.
“They got a goal after some ping pong in the box and it fell to the lads feet and he’s put it away well, David Raven had a good chance but apart from that, there was very little in the games.
“We played Workington three times in a week, we were there twice and if anyone watched the game they seen how difficult the games were for both sides with the amount of effort that both teams had put in. “
“They just sat in and defended well. We didn’t create enough, when we did we didn’t enough in the final third to win the game, I think if we would’ve scored we could’ve went on to win but we’ve come away without a point or any points.
“I think Prescot always give you a good game I’ve played them right through my managerial career at a number of levels but it was nice to see lads who haven’t played, started or missed out through illness having to come in and play straight away and grabbing the bull by the horns to drag us over the line.
“It’s a lot to ask for after being out for so long, some of these lads have played four games in 10 days and three of those have been against probably the main side in the division.
“I think first half we were really dominant we should’ve went in more than a goal up but a great free-kick from Lewis [Reilly].
“Second half I thought they were the better team in large parts, those players who hadn’t played much were starting to tire. I think we got a little bit disjointed but we able to bring on Ben [Hughes], Niall [Cummins] and [James] Barrigan, three big players for us.
“Particularly when Baz come on we settled down a little bit then they got a penalty but we managed to put it to bed in the 90th minute. Overall, at this level when you’re playing derbies there always close games, people know each other there’s a personal pride from both clothes.
“In them types of games after so many [games] it’s about getting over the line.
“Win football matches that’s all you can do and that’s all you got to do. How you win them doesn’t matter in most cases, just take a W if they can get one. It’s going to be a tough league.”
