Stockton Town booked their place in the FA Cup third qualifying round for the first time in club history with victory over National League North newcomers Marine.
Michael Dunwell was forced into a handful of changes with a number of players unavailable. Shane Henry, Elliott Beddow and Michael Fowler all started the game, with Josh Baggs returning after missing Tuesday night.
Four under-18 players were named on the bench, including 16-year-old Joseph Kennedy.
The Anchors started the better side, and saw a couple of opportunities sail off-target
After 23 minutes, Stockton found the lead when Glen Butterworth fired a close-range free-kick into the top left corner, out of reach of a diving Luke Hutchinson.
Visiting supporters thought their side had found an equaliser not long after, when a free-kick bounced off of the underside of the crossbar, onto the line but eventually away from danger.
37 minutes in, a very similar situation saw a curling shot from the left hand side bounce off the inside of the post, travels across the face of goal before flying away from the face of goal.
But deep into first-half stoppage-time, the Merseyside-based side found an equaliser when Owen Robinson rifled a shot past Nathan Harker from inside the box.
Half-time: Stockton Town 1-1 Marine
After an end-to-end opening to the second half, the Anchors restored their advantage when an out-swinging corner was met by the head of Tom Coulthard which soared past Hutchinson in the 59th minute.
The advantage was stretched seven minutes later when a Glen Butterworth free-kick caused chaos inside the area, Mikey Roberts saw a poked shot blocked on the line but Michael Fowler powered home a rebound to settle some nerves around the ground.
However Marine weren’t going down without a fight, and pulled one back with 77 minutes on the clock when Chanka Zimba found the target from close-range following a goalmouth scramble.
The Anchors defence held strong throughout the remainder of the game, and despite playing over 10 minutes of additional time, Stockton kept the National League North side out to secure their spot in the next round.
Full-time: Stockton Town 3-2 Marine
Michael Dunwell’s side now await Monday’s third qualifying round draw for the first time ever, but with a focus still on midweek action when Blyth Spartans make the trip to the MAP Group UK Stadium on Wednesday evening.
Stockton Town: Harker, Henry (Johnson 56’), Beddow (Roberts 56’), Painter, Purewal, Coulthard, Leech, Butterworth, Sweet (Spears 78’), Fowler, Baggs
Unused Subs: Birtles, Dryden, Kennedy, Stephenson
Marine: Hutchinson, Butler, Robinson, Holmes (Whelan 62’), Montgomery, Atcheson (Thomas 90+2), Griffiths (Lawel 63’), Zimba, Mattock, Brown (McNally 84’), Davis (Sinclair-Smith 62’)
Unused Subs: Waters, Cowderoy
Goals: Butterworth, 23 min, 1-0; Robinson, 45+3 min, 1-1; Coulthard, 59 min, 2-1; Fowler, 66 min, 3-1; Zimba, 77 min, 3-2.
Attendance: 472
Words: Jordan Clarke
Photo: Harry Cook
