Hanwell v Marine Preview

Hanwell v Marine Preview

From Nick Taylor

Weather permitting, Marine head east on Saturday to face Hanwell Town, hoping to bounce back from last Saturday’s hugely disappointing home defeat to Harrow Borough which Head Coach, Stuart Fleetwood, described post-match as their worst performance under his guidance.

Hanwell go into the fixture unbeaten in their last four games, including an impressive 3-0 away win down at Poole Town and last tasted defeat back on January 13th when they lost 2-1 at home to Basingstoke Town, the same day Marine last experienced the joys of victory, a 2-1 home win to Walton & Hersham.

Fleetwood’s squad find themselves three points and three places below ‘The London Geordies’ after their loss last weekend, occupying the final relegation slot and having conceded 76 goals in their 31 games to date and need to keep things tight in defence if they are to return up the M4 with anything to show for their endeavours.

The two sides played out a 1-1 draw at The Webbswood Stadium back on Saturday 21st October, with Joe Tumelty’s first half strike being cancelled out by a Matt Liddiard (pictured) own goal just before half time, in a game remembered for by the heroics of Hanwell keeper, Sam Beasant who almost single-handily keeping Marine at bay with a string of fine saves.

Ex-Woking youngster Sam Evans (14 goals) and former North Leigh striker Jenson Wright (9 goals) carry the goal threat for the home side, supported by former Swindon Town youngster Jacob Bancroft, who has scored five goals in the last eleven games.

Marine striker, Harry Williams, will be particularly looking forward to revisiting ‘The Powerday Stadium’, having found the net there for Salisbury back in November in their 3-2 win, as well as scoring in the corresponding fixture last season in a 3-1 triumph for Marine, in a game remembered for midfielder Brad Hooper starring in goal!

With mostly a full squad to pick from, apart from long-term injured Tom Sharpe, Fleetwood is keen to see a response from last week’s defeat. “It’s a huge game where we need to focus on turning the disappointing run around. We need to go back to the foundations on what gave us the current opportunity to remain in the division. There’s thirty three points still to play for and over a quarter of the season to go”.