The Year 11s kicked off their final season representing Marden with a well fought game away to Seaton Burn on Monday night, and were narrowly defeated with a cruel deflected winner in the last minute.

Luke lines up a free kick as Marden press for an unlikely comeback victory in the second half.

Marden were slow to get started and conceded within minutes of the kick off after a smart long range effort from Seaton Burn. The home side raced into a 3-0 lead within 20 minutes after beating the offside trap twice more, and with both sides hitting the crossbar an eventful game looked to be already all wrapped up.

Marden got to grips with the pace of the game however, and got back into it with a Luke Monaghan penalty after striker Harvey Laycock was brought down. They kept pressing and managed a second before half time when man of the match Jack Ashworth burst forward from left back to send a swinging left footed shot over the goalkeeper’s head and into the roof of the net.

Playing neat football, and now making the most of their numerous chances, Marden’s confidence grew in the second half as winger Will Kelly made it 3-3, striking home from close range as a loose ball ricocheted to him in the box.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WUEL4j1kqFs&feature=youtu.be

Monaghan had a chance to complete an unlikely comeback when he struck the bar from 40 yards with a free kick, Kelly failing to convert the rebound, and Seaton Burn suddenly found a second wind, hitting the bar themselves once more and blazing another close range shot over after Marden failed to clear a corner. Then, as extra time loomed in this league/cup double header, Seaton Burn claimed all 3 points and advance to the next round as a hopeful shot from outside the box flicked a Marden defender and wrongfooted Aidan McDonald in goal.

It was nevertheless a very positive performance from Marden’s U16s, with Luke Monaghan and Tom Stoetzel orchestrating things in midfield, and Lee Scott turning in an impressive performance at centre-back in his first ever game representing the school.

Well done lads.