Stockton Town kicked off their 2015/16 season with an encouraging performance over last years Northern League Champions Marske United. There was some decent football played by both sides and 3 good goals scored, the pick of which was a 25 yard screamer from Max Craggs. Stockton were missing Jimmy Ward and Chris Dunwell to cricket, Tom Coulthard, Chris Stockton, Macaulay Langstaff and Scott Meehan to injury and Liam Jordan to holidays and welcomed Josh Marron who was with Stokesley last season and Prince Xavier Bengo from the U18’s. Marske started the brighter and dominated the early possession until Stockton changed there shape, this saw a fairly even contest with some good possession football from both sides. The game burst into life in the 5 minutes before half time when Stockton made there increasing possession count. A good move down the right saw Max Craggs deliver a pinpoint ball to the back post where Centre Forward Kallum Hannah side footed the ball back across Dean in the Marske goal to find the far corner of the net, to give Stockton the lead on 41 minutes. There was even better to follow 3 minutes later when Max Craggs unleashed another of his rockets and from 25 yards gave the Marske goalkeeper no chance. The second half saw Marske make numerous changes and the half continued in the same manner as the first half. Robert Dean made two good saves from Tony Johnson and Kallum Hannah before Michael Arthur in Stockton’s goal stood up well to make a fantastic close range stop. As the half wore on the fresher Marske legs were starting to dominate and it was no surprise when Craig Ruddy got a goal back for Marske with a smart volley in to the far corner. Full time saw Stockton hold on to the  2 1 win in what was an entertaining game for the large crowd.