Darby goal beats Spalding as Marine prepare for Hartlepool trip

Sunday 11 October 2026 · By Bernard Lathom

Marine have a big week ahead. Bobby Grant’s side beat Spalding United 1–0 at home on Saturday, and now they travel to National League side Hartlepool United in the FA Cup fourth qualifying round.

Ben Darby scored the only goal on 66 minutes in front of a crowd of 1,405. The win lifted Marine to 13th in the Enterprise National League North on 15 points from 11 games, and it was a valuable three points against a Spalding side who started the day in the play-off places.

Marine have won five and lost six of their league games, without a draw so far, and have scored 13 goals and conceded 12. Their goal difference of plus one is a sign that, despite their mid-table position, they have been competitive in most of their games.

The FA Cup tie at Hartlepool takes place on Saturday 17 October at 3pm, with a place in the first round proper at stake. The two clubs have met twice before in the competition, according to Marine’s club website. Hartlepool won 5–2 in 1932, and in 1975 the sides drew 1–1 before Hartlepool won the replay 6–3.

Marine’s FA Cup pedigree is well known. Their 2021 tie against Tottenham Hotspur made headlines around the world, and another giant-killing would add to that history.

Hartlepool arrive in better form than they have been for some time. Pete Wild’s side won 4–2 at Forest Green Rovers on Saturday, their first win in seven games, ending a six-match losing run and lifting them out of the Enterprise National League relegation zone on goal difference. It was also Wild’s first win as Hartlepool manager, so the home side will be full of confidence.

There have been changes off the field at Marine too. Long-serving Neil Young stepped down from his director of football role at the end of June, a move the club described as the end of an era. Jimmy Holmes has since been appointed director of football.

Grant has been in charge since May 2025 and signed a two-year contract extension in April 2026, and the club has given him the time to build a squad that can compete at this level.

Because of the cup tie, Marine’s scheduled league game at Scarborough Athletic on Saturday 17 October has been postponed. When the league resumes, they host Oxford City on Saturday 24 October, before travelling to Chester on Tuesday 27 October.

Spalding arrived on the back of a 4–0 FA Cup replay win over Bury Town, despite a long injury list, and Marine had to earn their victory. Darby’s goal midway through the second half settled the contest, and for Grant, a clean sheet on the eve of a big cup tie was just as welcome as the three points.

Those two fixtures are against sides in the top four, so whatever happens at Hartlepool, Marine face a demanding fortnight. But Saturday’s win over Spalding showed that Grant’s side can grind out results, and they will travel to the North East with nothing to lose.