Beaconsfield Town 2 Marine 3

Southern League Premier South | Saturday 11th February 2023

Posted by Keith Yeomans on February 12th 2023

`Match Report from Aleck Everard`

MARINE RAM-RAID BEACONSFIELD

Swindon Supermarine were on the road again just a few days after their trip to Poole Town as they took on the Rams of Beaconsfield Town on Saturday afternoon. With injuries and absences piling up it was a debut for Bristol Rovers loanee Malik Sesay at centre half and Conor McDonagh replaced top scorer Harry Williams who turned his ankle at Poole. Brad Hooper was away for personal reasons meaning he joined the list of absences which included Tyrone Duffus, George Dowling, Tom Sharpe and Lewis Hall with Leon Morrison only fit enough for the bench as an emergency option.

Bristol Rovers loanee Malik Sesay made a solid start in his first Marine game
Photo © Debbie Gould Photography Match Album

Marine were fast out of the blocks applying loads of early pressure by passing the ball well on the 3G surface. It was no shock on six minutes, when after having earnt an early corner, a clever training ground routine saw ZACK KOWTWICA get on the end of a low corner from Joe Tumelty to slide the ball home past keeper Kie Plumley. That was the ninth goal of the season from the forward on his 50th start for the club.

Zack Kotwica’s shot from a corner routine found the net for the opening goal
Photo © Debbie Gould Photography Match Album

The hosts responded well and Josh Gould was down with a good block minutes later. But Marine kept on attacking earning a free kick on the edge of the box. Henry Spalding’s kick was unfortunately blocked Conor McDonagh but broke back to JOE TUMELTY whose shot was seen late by the home keeper and the ball ended up in the bottom corner of the net for the perfect start for Marine, and in the process scoring his first goal for Marine, twelve minutes in and a 2-0 lead.

Joe Tumelty shoots for goal and scores Marine’s second
Photo © Debbie Gould Photography Match Album

It now became a very open half with chances at both ends. Mat Liddiard was defending well with some excellent blocks but Marine were dangerous up front. Tumelty had another close in effort blocked off the line and Kotwica was hauled down on 25 minutes by Henry Hawkins and he rightly went into the book. Marine keeper Josh Gould was keeping busy too with a good follow up save after losing the ball from a cross but it should have been 3-0 a minute later when Ryan Campbell’s header came off the bar and went over.

Mat Liddiard was defending well with some excellent blocks
Photo © Debbie Gould Photography Match Album

This looked like a turning point as from the next attack Beaconsfield struck back. With twenty-eight minutes on the clock, full back CALLUM WEBB found some space 30 yards out and walloped a great shot into the top corner of the net, giving Gould no chance. The hosts were back in it and the action continued with Tumelty coming close again with a good effort that went just wide and Gould having to block a shot after racing out of his goal.

Josh Gould had to make a couple of saves and block this Beaconsfield effort
Photo © Debbie Gould Photography Match Album

The injury woe continued for Marine however with seven minutes left in the first half. Will Tunnicliff appeared to pull up with a hamstring strain and this meant a reshuffle with James Harding moving up top, Ryan Campbell dropping to the full back position and Kotwica to the wing. It didn’t stop Campbell from raiding down the left and he was the next to have an effort well saved on the line by Plumley the home keeper. That was the last chance of an action packed first period but with the game so end to end more goals seemed inevitable.

James Harding replaced the injured Will Tunnicliff which meant a change in formation
Photo © Debbie Gould Photography Match Album

The second period began with an early shout for a spot kick from the Rams but it was waved away by the officials but Marine were looking the likelier at the start of the half. A long throw from Campbell just eluded Harding at the back stick before when he did put the ball in the net minutes later the assistants flag went up and his joy was short lived. Beaconsfield were having their chances still as both sides were playing some excellent football on the pacey surface. Nathan Minhas found some space just before the hour but somehow put his header wide of goal and then Gould pulled out another great save flying across the line to keep the lead intact.

Ryan Campbell dropped to play at fullback after Tunnicliff’s departure
Photo © Debbie Gould Photography Match Album

Henry Spalding then had a chance blocked on the line by the keeper who was gaining in confidence and then Harding had a chance but his header was flicked just go over the bar. Then then the Rams leveller arrived after a good team move saw NATHAN MINHAS get clear of the defence and drive his effort into the far corner giving Gould no chance. The Rams scented blood and pushed hard for the winner but by doing so were giving Marine excellent chances on the break with both Kotwica and McDonagh being denied by keeper Plumley.

The players celebrate James Harding’s 88th minute winner
enter image description here Joe Tumelty is thumbs up for the part he played in the winning goal
Photo © Debbie Gould Photography Match Album

Then with time running out and after a further Rams attack Marine struck with the winner. The best team move of the game initiated by man of the match Joe Tumelty, who ran the show for large periods in midfield, saw his left-footed cross fall to Henry Spalding at the back post. He’s brave header across the box was met by the poacher supreme JAMES HARDING who tapped the ball into the unguarded net to send the thirty odd fans into raptures.

Injury time pressure as Beaconsfield sling the ball into the box but Josh Gould punched clear
Photo © Debbie Gould Photography Match Album

It was Harding’s 8th goal in sixteen starts and his first since a back injury that ruled him out for a few months. Despite a bit of injury time there were no scares and a well deserved three points was in the bag. With so many players out it was always going to be tough and without the 100 percent effort that all showed nothing would have been gained. The was the team’s best away performance of the season without a doubt and fully exorcised the ghosts of a 5-1 defeat here last season, not to mention the first win at Holloway Park for Marine.

Joe Tumelty celebrates his goal and played a part in all three goals to win the fans player of the match
Fans player of the match went to Joe Tumelty.

Attendance: 92

`Line Ups`

Beaconsfield Town
Manager: Gary Meakin
Colours: All Red Line-up: 1. Kie Plumley 2. Charlie Smith (15. Toby Little 46’) 3. Callum Webb 4. Sam Togwell 5. Henry Hawkins 6. Aaron Minhas (c) 7. Dan Bradshaw 8. Sam Granville 9. Nathan Minhas 10. Elliott Buchanan 11. Kyel Reid
Goalscorer: Calum Webbs 28’, Nathan Minhas 78’
Subs Not Used: 12. Ollie Sprague, 13. R’Avan Constable, 16. Ben De Lacy-Turner
Editors Star Man: Daniel Bradshaw
Cards:
Henry Hawkins 21’ Yellow Card
None Red Card
None Yellow & Red Card