Hartpury 2 Marine 1

Match Report from Pete Crockett

A MAGICAL MYSTERY TOUR OF DECISION MAKING

This was, at heart, a meeting of two capable and willing footballing sides - a contest that ought to have showcased craft and skill.

Instead, it became a study in how a match can be misshapen by a refereeing display where the implausibility of decision-making becomes a magical mystery tour. Marine supporters soon learnt that predicting the next officiating verdict was an exercise in surrealist futility.

Marine were bright at the outset and their sixth-minute opener was fully deserved. Sid Gbla curled in a tempting cross from the left, the ball hanging just long enough to invite RAPHA OPPONG’S looping header over the advancing keeper - a goal fashioned neatly and taken well.

After eighteen minutes a tangle of legs involving Tawana Changa and Louis Manning resulted in a penalty, one described by a more diplomatic Marine supporter as “marshmallow soft.” Before the kick could be taken the referee appeared to caution goalkeeper Luke Purnell for time-wasting – the officials own delay seeming to exceed any time lost by the keeper. That irony clung to the scene like fog.

The goalkeeper rendered the point moot. The penalty was struck low to Luke Purnell’s right but was repelled by a superb save. Hartpury briefly thought they had restored parity in the 21st minute when Billy Osborn bundled home from close range. The ball clearly struck a hand before he netted and was chalked off.

The afternoon’s hinge moment came in the 35th minute. Marine’s Sam Turl tackled firmly for a loose ball on the right flank, appearing to nick the ball cleanly with his right foot before then coming into contact with the attacker coming across him. The home bench erupted as though auditioning for Greek tragedy; the referee, inspired by their conviction, produced a red card with theatrical certainty.

Marine’s disbelief was not unfounded. Two or three comparable tackles had passed without sanction earlier in the match. A sagacious Marine follower remarked that had the incident occurred on the dugout-less side the colour of the card might well have been different.

Fears of a serious injury to the Hartpury player thankfully dissipated quickly; the young man recovered with admirable speed returning to the field of play instantly and valiantly completing the game in vigorous style.

The dismissal buoyed the hosts. Drew Robinson found space at the back post but was again denied by Purnell. In first-half stoppage time, Vanylson Silva stabbed a shot goalward at the near post, only for Marine debutant Tom Farnsworth to block bravely — a moment that sealed his early popularity among the travelling contingent.

The halftime whistle saw the referee incur a cacophony of discontent from Marine supporters. They certainly felt their team was pitted against a stronger force than merely their opponents in red.

The second half followed a predictable pattern: Marine sitting deep, buoyed by resolve; Hartpury pressing with the assurance of a side holding the numerical advantage. Within three minutes of the restart Machisa flashed a long-range effort wide. The waves of pressure continued.

They broke through on 58 minutes. Silva floated a deep cross to the far post, Tomas Shyamapant nodded it back across goal, and Noah Coates applied the finishing touch from close range.

Marine, though, were not content to suffer. Sid Gbla forced a save at 64 minutes; Rapha Oppong flashed an effort just wide from distance moments later. But the tide was running the other way, and on 68 minutes the decisive moment arrived. Nathan Jenkins was afforded space to advance and from 25-yards he struck a crisp true drive that skidded into the bottom corner — a goal of conviction and one that completed Hartpury’s turnaround.

Still Luke Purnell kept Marine in it, denying Manning once more and beating away another effort from Robinson. In the closing stages Silva and Jenkins each sent shots narrowly wide as Hartpury sought a third.

In the final minute Hartpury won a corner. Having seen their own keeper cautioned for supposed delay earlier they expected similar treatment for what appeared lengthy pre-corner preparations. None materialised. The corner was eventually taken and the game soon came to an end.

Credit to Hartpury: with an extra man they passed intelligently to retain possession and apply pressure. Yet for Marine there were bright notes amid the frustrations: a willingness to fight until the final whistle, an outstanding display from goalkeeper Luke Purnell, and an assured and resolute debut from centre-back Tom Farnsworth.

Marine will hope that fortune — and officiating equilibrium — swing back toward them soon.

Come on Marine!

Attendance: 55

Manager:	Mike Symons
Line-up:	Colours: Red & Black
No	Player	Goals	Card	No	Substitute	Goals	Card
1.	Seth Locke [GK]
2.	Solomon Kent
3.	Drew Robinson
4.	Leon Machisa
5.	Connor Callow			12.	Tom Shyamapant 54’
6.	Nathan Jenkins	68’
7.	Louis Manning			17.	Charlie Matthews 76’
8.	Jesse Aldridge		31’	15.	George Sims 82’
9.	Billy Osborn			14.	Jacob Towns 79’
10.	Noah Coates	55’
11.	Vanylson Silva

Editors Star Man: Nathan Jenkins
Subs not used: 16. Keon Sanniola

Manager:	Bobby Wilkinson
Line-up:	Colours: Blue & White Hoops
No	Player	Goals	Card	No	Substitute	Goals	Card
1	Luke Purnell [GK]		19’
2	Sam Turl (c)		35’
3	Tawana Changa			12	George Alston 86’
4	Tom Farnsworth
5	Josh Blythe
6	Zach Rugman		30’	14	Max Hemmings 70’
7	Sal Abubakar
8	Jamie Edge			17	Fareed Salifu 69’
9	Raphael Oppong	6’		16	Rhys Williams 70’
10	Sid Gbla			15	Jonny Efedje 70’
11	Dayo Sonoiki

Editors Star Man: Tom Farnsworth
Subs not used: None