Highworth 1 Marine 2

Match Report from Pete Crockett

MARINE WIN IN A361 DERBY

Marine made a significant number of changes for this Wiltshire Premier Shield quarter final tie against neighbouring Highworth Town. The Marine team saw ten changes from the side that started against Marlow Town on Saturday. Meanwhile opponents Highworth Town started with five ex-Marine players in their team in Rhys Wells, Ash Taylor, Leon Morrison, Matt Jones, and Gio Wrona.

Playing conditions were tricky with a tacky playing surface after several days of heavy rain and an icy sheen glazing the surface as temperatures dropped. Despite this both teams endeavoured to play good passing football. The early exchanges were relatively even with both sides creating half chances but struggling to prise the opposition defence open for something clearer cut.

Marine opened the scoring in the 25th minute. Anton Dworzak gained possession forty yards from goal. He surged between two defenders and from twenty five yards fired a thunderous shot against the base of the post to the keeper’s right. The ball rapidly bounced across goal and at a tight angle arrived to the feet of DYLAN GRIFFIN. The Marine number seven did well to net from an acute angle and give Marine the lead.

The game was now one of attack and counterattack. With the Marine back four of Stuart Fleetwood, Jamie Edge, Josh McKinlay, and Liban Ibrahim doing well in preventing Highworth getting into the danger areas. Marine had one close scare when Highworth’s Piers Walton gained possession and advanced down the left flank with pace. He cut inside the area and advanced between two Marine defenders to fire a shot at goal that was well blocked by Jamie Edge.

With 37 minutes elapsed the home team won a corner. The kick from their left flank was met at close range by ASH TAYLOR’S header. Marine keeper Dan Brabham got a hand to it to push it onto the post but was unable to prevent the header finding the back of the net.

Early in the second half a pleasing build up from Marine saw Jamie Edge pass across the Marine area to Josh McKinlay who clipped a pass to Dave Sims-Burgess just inside the Highworth half. He in turn found Lucias Vine in the penalty arc who slipped the ball leftwards to Cheldon Valere who did well to create an opening for a shot. However, on the slippery surface, he could not get the connection he desired and his shot was easily gathered by Oliver Gargett in the host’s goal.

On 57 minutes Marine took the lead. Liban Ibrahim collected the ball on the left flank some 35-yards from the goal line. He fed the ball inside to Anton Dworzak who in turn knocked it across the front of the Highworth area to Lucias Vine. The Marine number ten dropped his left shoulder a fraction wrong footing the defender then moved the ball to his right. From 25-yard he struck a splendiferous effort into the top corner.

Eight minutes later Marine found the back of the net again when a well weighted pass from Cheldon Valere found Dave Sims-Burgess in the penalty area. The Marine striker finished the chance well only to turn and see the assistants flag raised for offside. Going down the slope Highworth Town were now starting to build up a head of steam. The host’s Harry Hillerby was making some strong overlaps from left back that were causing Marine problems.

A corner from the left saw Lucias Vine clear an Ash Taylor header from the goal line. Then a few minutes later Highworth’s Leon Morrison collected the ball on the right-hand flank and knocked a ball inside to Matt Jones in what, in bygone days, would have been deemed the inside right position. From 25-yards he hit a low shot to the right of Dan Brabham. The shot hit the far post and bounced out to Marine’s Stuart Fleetwood who put the ball out of play for a corner kick.

The resultant left-wing corner was headed out to the host’s right flank. Leon Morrison collected and knocked a deep cross to the far side of Marine’s area. Gio Wrona hit a low effort towards Dan Brabham’s front post that the keeper blocked. Piers Walton collected the rebound and fed the ball back out to Gio Wrona whose second effort was parried by the keeper to the edge of the area. Ash Taylor then got his shot away but it was well charged down by Marine’s Oludayo Sonoiki at the cost of a corner kick.

Minutes later Highworth had another chance when a Rhys Wells cross from the goal line found Gio Wrona in the box and fifteen yards from goal. However, his effort on the gummy surface was scuffed and easily gathered by the Marine keeper. The next chance for Highworth fell to Rhys Wells whose shot from an acute angle was thwarted by a well-positioned Dan Brabham. The attacks were now pouring down on the Marine defence but the gelatinous underfoot conditions were making it tricky to get a clean strike of the ball with another scuffed shot from Piers Walton on the left edge of the area being well gathered by the Marine keeper. Marine still remained a threat on the counterattack and in the final ten minutes Gabe Reivers twenty-yard effort forced a diving save from the home keeper.

At the final whistle Highworth will feel disappointed not to have made more of the pressure they built up for twenty minutes after Marine’s second goal. A number of their players put in eye catching shifts including Ash Taylor at centre back, Harry Hillerby at left back and Leon Morrison in midfield.

Marine there were a number of positives to take from this game.
The first positive was how well Josh McKinlay, Dylan Griffin, Oludayo Sonoiki, Cheldon Valere, and Liam Clark acquitted themselves playing against a strong step five team. They seemed to thrive from the on-field coaching they received from more experienced players - both Stuart Fleetwood and Jamie Edge offering an abundance of encouragement, guidance, and support. For young players to operate alongside those with the footballing know how of these two can only benefit their advancement.

The second positive was the resilience the keeper and back four showed after Marine took the lead. They were ably assisted by some good blocks and pressing from the midfield.

The third was the quality of the two Marine goals. As a team they have the ability and playing quality to seriously hurt a team in a matter of seconds - that is a very good attribute to have.

The fourth was the return to fitness of Anton Dworzak. He put in a very good shift. His capacity to run at players from deep creates openings that can be exploited as defenders are caught between sticking with the player they are marking or closing his run down.

The fifth was this victory extends Marine’s unbeaten run to seven matches. It is clear that the team’s system of play is embedded across the squad and even with significant changes the “Marine style” of pass, move, and be comfortable in possession was evident.

Come on Marine!

Highworth Star Man: Leon Morrison
Marine Star Men: Jamie Edge & Josh McKinlay
Attendance: Estimated 125

Line Ups

HIGHWORTH TOWN
Managers: Paul Braithwaite
Colours: All Red
Line-up: 1. Oliver Gargett 2. Rhys Wells 3. Harry Hillerby 4. Matt Cheatham (c) 5. Dane Comer (Tom Griffiths 65’) 6. Ash Taylor 7. Connor Mattimore (Xavi Diaz 77’) 8. Leon Morrison 9. Matt Jones 10. Gio Wrona 11. Piers Walton
Subs not used: 14. Liam Haines 15. Ash Edenborough
Goalscorers: Ash Taylor 35’
Cards:
None
None
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SWINDON SUPERMARINE
Head Coach: Stuart Fleetwood
Colours: All Yellow
Line-up: 1. Dan Brabham 2. Stuart Fleetwood 3. Liban Ibrahim 4. Jamie Edge 5. Josh McKinlay 6. Anton Dworzak 7. Dylan Griffin (17.Gabe Reivers 65’) 8. Oludayo Soloiki (17.Liam Clark 78’) 9. Dave Sims-Burgess 10. Lucias Vine 11. Cheldon Valere (16._Zack Kotwica 65’)
Subs not used: 14. Jake Lee 15. Sam Turl
Goalscorers: Dylan Griffin 23’ , Lucias Vine 55’
Cards:
Oludayo Soloiki 58’
None
None

Match Gallery

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Courtesy of Alex White Photography

Match Officials

Referee: Adam Gregory
Assistant Referees: Luke Hinchcliffe, Alex Matthews