THE Carlsberg South West Peninsula League Premier Division's bottom club, the Royal Marines, fielded one of their strongest teams of the season against Saltash United at Kimberley Stadium on Tuesday, holding a single-goal advantage until the 55th minute.

Once Saltash scored the result always looked to be going their way until a nervous last five minutes when the Marines notched their second goal of the night.

'We made hard work of it. At 3-1 we looked home and dry and then conceded a soft goal which made for a tense finish,' said the Ashes' joint boss, Kevin Hendy.

'All in all, back-to-back wins in four days can't be bad. We now have to keep the run going and make sure we are on top form ready for next Wednesday's Senior Cup semi-final against Porthleven.'

Saltash started well enough with a rasping 20-yard Darren Hicks free-kick forcing a good save out of visiting goalkeeper James Ashford-Brown.

Hicks tried his luck again from another set piece, his effort curling just wide, before the visitors shook the home crowd by taking an 18th minute lead.

Their first real attack saw Martin Finneron's right-wing delivery being lashed home from close range by former Ashes central defender David Carns.

It could have been worse for the home crowd had Dan Boere done better with Adam Fowler's great cross but the Marines midfielder somehow fired over.

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