The Mariners started their inaugural Football Conference campaign with a trip to title favourites Crawley Town. Lee Peacock’s first-half free kick ensured Neil Woods’ side started the season with all three points but it would be a long, hard road back to the Football League from there.

MATCH ACTION

7 mins: First chance for the hosts, Matt Tubbs heads over after good work by Barry Cogan.

18 mins: Sergio Torres makes an opening for himself in the penalty box but drags his effort across the face of goal with just Kenny Arthur to beat.

37 mins: RED CARD! Crawley’s Dutch stopper Michel Kuipers is sent off for handling outside his area as Lee Ridley’s long ball skips up off the wet turf.

38 mins: GOAL! 1-0 TO THE MARINERS. Lee Peacock’s inch-perfect free kick gives Town the lead at the Broadfield Stadium.

41 mins: A glorious chance goes begging for the hosts as defender Adam Quinn plants his header well over the crossbar when unmarked from Steve Masterton’s cross.

48 mins: Arthur smothers an effort from substitute Liam Marum

56 mins: Tubbs works himself an opening but can only fire the ball into the side netting.

78 mins: A chance for Town to double their advantage. Michael Coulson breaks at pace but his cross just eludes the stretching Michael Leary.

MATCH STATS

DATE: Saturday 14 August 2010| COMPETITION: Blue Square Bet Premier VENUE: Broadfield Stadium | ATT: 2,428

Match Facts: CRAWLEY TOWN: Kuipers; Mills, Wilson, Hall, Quinn; Rusk (Malcolm 80), Torres, Cogan (Marum 46), Masterton, McAllister (Jordan 38), Tubbs. Subs not used: Reason, Smith.

MARINERS: Arthur; Wood (Eagle 58), Ridley, Kempson, Watt, Bore, Hudson, Leary, Coulson; Peacock, Connell (Dixon 88). Subs not used: Garner, Cummins, Samuels.