From: MARINERS NET

Menno Willems's late strike was in vain as a Patrick Suffo brace and a goal from Michael Brown condemned the Mariners to a 3-1 defeat at Bramall Lane today.

Michael Brown's well taken goal midway through the second half had dampened Town's spirits before Menno Willems netted an unusual consolation, direct from a corner in the closing minutes.

Peter Ndlovu could have made it two soon after Suffo’s first, but his shot from D'Jaffo's cross flew just over. Marlon Broomes then did well to cut out a cross from Shane Nicholson, but the former Blackburn loanee defender was left helpless in the 27th minute when Suffo let fly with a rasping low drive from all of 30 yards to double The Blades' advantage.

At the other end, Alan Pouton had a shot deflected wide, John Rowan headed wide and arguably the Mariners best chance of the first half fell to Phil Jevons , but the hero at Anfield midweek shot the wrong side of the post with just the keeper to beat.

The second half saw the home side well on top once again and only the heroics of Coyne, who saved from Suffo, Ndlovu and D'Jaffo, prevented United from extending their advantage.

Controversy surrounded the Blades third goal. The Mariners could only half clear a corner and when Brown won the ball near the halfway line, he was allowed to move, unmarked, to the edge of the penalty area before curling the ball over Coyne and into the net. Town’s players protested the goal should not have stood as Butterfield lay injured , but referee Butler disagreed.

The Mariners began to spark to life, and they hit back through Rowan, who had a shot blocked and Bradley Allen, who slipped when in a good position.

The Mariners did pull one back when goalkeeper Simon Tracey helped substitute Willems's corner into his own net, but that was scant consolation for a poor Town display.

ATT: 15,442

1 - Simon Tracey
  6 - Keith Curle
  2 - Rob Kozluk
32 - Robert Page
  5 - Shaun Murphy
  3 - Shane Nicholson
   (George Santos 87)
16 - Peter Ndlovu
   (Ryan Mallon 93)
  7 - Michael Brown
26 - Michael Tonge
12 - Laurent D'Jaffo
19 - Patrick Suffo
   (Paul Devlin 77)

GOALS

13', 27'  19.

61'  7.

GTFC TEAMSHEET

1 - Danny Coyne
34 - David Beharall
  3 - Tony Gallimore
  4 - Marlon Broomes
11 - Paul Groves
  7 - Alan Pouton
22 - Ben Chapman
   (Menno Willems 45)
10 - Stuart Campbell
   (Bradley Allen 51)
12 - Danny Butterfield
   (Stacey Coldicott 65)
20 - Jonathan Rowan
21 - Phil Jevons

GOALS