ATHERTON Collieries’ interest in the FA Trophy was ended at the second qualifying-round stage as they were given a harsh footballing lesson in a 5-1 defeat at home to Marine, their visitors from the Evo-Stik League Premier Division, illustrating the stark difference of just a single division between the two sides.

Marine went in front early on but the sides had been level at the break after a concerted period of Colls pressure brought a Chris Lynch equaliser, only for the visitors to notch up four second-half goals – two in the final six minutes – to give the scoreline a somewhat lopsided look.

The game started in what can only be described as a robust fashion with no quarter given by either side as a number of challenges went flying in and Colls captain Brad Cooke shown a yellow card after only five minutes for what was only one of a number of firm challenges in the midst of the battle.

Former Colls midfielder Vinny Bailey was in the visiting line-up and it was almost inevitable he would have a major bearing on the fixture, and so it proved as he provided the assist for the first goal of the afternoon on eight minutes when he blocked an attempted clearance from home goalkeeper Adam Reid and crossed from the right-hand side for Marine captain Danny Mitchley to finish into an empty net.

Marine were playing at full throttle and went close a minute later when Mitchley’s effort floated over, before visiting goalkeeper Martin Fearon was called upon to acrobatically bat away an attempt from Ben Hardcastle after his burst forward via a neat interchange with Iain Howard.

Darrhyl Mason had a good chance after he had been fouled to the right of the area but he headed Howard’s free kick over the bar.

As the half hour mark dawned, Colls found themselves with more of a foothold in the game and forced a succession of corners, with Lynch heading agonisingly wide at the back post before a scary moment for Marine centre-back Adam Hughes when he headed marginally over his own crossbar.

The pressure finally told on 37 minutes when Howard drifted yet another Colls corner in and Lynch made amends for his previous miss, scrambling the ball home from six yards out to haul the hosts deservedly level.

Having done the hard work in earning the equaliser and turning around on level terms, it took only three minutes of the second half for that effort to be undone when James Murray was on hand at the back post to head a cross past Reid.

Bailey again exerted his influence on the game on 61 minutes as he threaded the ball through for Mitchley to take advantage of a high Colls defensive line and break through to coolly slot in his second of the afternoon.

Jake Kenny and Jordan Cover were introduced from the Colls bench on 65 minutes in an effort to get back in to the game, and Howard had a chance to pull a goal back 15 minutes from time when, following great work from Mason, the ball broke to him inside the box but he put his effort wide.

As Colls pushed for a way back in to the game, their defence became more fragmented, allowing Bailey to claim the goal that his performance deserved on his return to the Kensite Stadium, showing neat footwork to dodge a couple of challenges in the box before picking his spot in the bottom corner to put the Mariners 4-1 to the good. Reid produced a stunning save to tip wide a Florian Da Silva effort, but there was still time for Marine to get a fifth goal, Murray netting his second of the afternoon to cap the victory for the visitors.

Having never before competed in the FA Trophy, it has been a journey into the unknown for Colls, who had come through previous rounds with resounding victories at Stocksbridge Park Steels and Kendal Town.

After defeat to such a polished higher-division opposition as Marine, Mike Clegg’s men’s thoughts now turn back to Evo-Stik League North matters with a trip across the Pennines to face Brighouse Town on Saturday. Kick off is 3pm.