East Lincs Combination: Mablethorpe Athletic edged out despite Brownson wonder strike

An astonishing goal from inside his own half by Adam Brownson wasn't enough for Mablethorpe Athletic to avoid a slender defeat by North Somercotes.

This was similar to their previous match against AFC Holton Le Clay as Mablethorpe again lost 2-1 to one of the finest teams in the league after a tireless performance.

Mablethorpe began brightly and Brownson curled a free-kick narrowly over, but Somercotes responded with Nathan Hobson and John Atkinson having efforts well blocked by Jake Brownson and Mathew Sirett respectively.

Soon after, Marcus Mackay denied Charlie Bushby with a good save, and then made a last-ditch challenge to thwart Cameron Turner who had raced clear.

In the 37th minute came the goal of the season.

A wayward free-kick by goalkeeper Harry McGregor came to Brownson on the right and he tried his luck from about 60 yards, the ball flying into the top-left corner much to the hosts’ delight.

It was a fantastic goal and minutes after the restart Danny Marshall almost doubled the lead with a long-range strike which dipped just over.

It looked like Mablethorpe would go into the break ahead until Somercotes equalised in stoppage time.

A shot by Bushby was blocked by Jake Spybey and the rebound fell kindly to Mark Sylvester who fired in.

Somercotes picked up where they left off in the second half with Sylvester, Atkinson and Andy Willoughby all going close.

Midway through the half, Turner whipped in a corner to Hobson whose bullet header was brilliantly headed off the line by Stewart Thomas.

Mablethorpe continued to defend well for long periods and it looked like they would earn a point, but Somercotes found a winner in the 80th minute when Willoughby latched onto a long ball by skipper Paul Chapman and fired home.

Somercotes kept it tight in the last 10 minutes to run out 2-1 winners.

Manager Mick Stubbs was happy with Mablethorpe’s performance.

“It was a very good spirited effort by us and North Somercotes had to battle very hard for the points,” he said.

“The lads should be pleased with their performance and if we continue to battle like this we’ll get better results.

“Mathew Sirett, Jake Marshall and Alex Carter and all had great games in defence. I’d say the man-of-the-match was Alex Carter, but only just.

“Adam Brownson scored another special goal. There are only a select few that can do what he did and it was a super strike!”

On Wednesday, Mablethorpe visit Alford Town in the league (kick-off 6.15pm).

Mablethorpe (4-2-3-1): Mackay; Thomas (Billingham 76), J. Marshall, Carter, Sirett (c); J. Brownson, Spybey (Turner 82); S. Parnell, D. Marshall, Brownson, A. Parnell.