Hungerford Town 3 Marine 2

Match Report from Pete Crockett

Marine lose to another late goal

Sometimes the football gods can be callously cruel as for the second time in a week against playoff contenders Marine were defeated by an injury time winner.

The game turned in the final few minutes when the hosts Elis Watts and Fabio Lopes scored to turn a 2-1 deficit into a 3-2 win for the home team.

The early exchanges were fairly even with both sides having spells of pressure but neither causing too many problems for the keepers.

The games first goal fell to Marine around the half hour mark when Dave Sims-Burgess broke clear of the Crusaders defence and hammered a bouncing ball on the half volley past the home keeper Nick Harvey.

Hungerford then had the bulk of attacking up to the half time whistle without really troubling the Marine goal.

Within minutes of the restart the hosts were on level terms when a penalty was awarded for a handling offence by Jamie Edge. Former Marine striker Conor McDonagh stepped up to convert the spot kick, sending Conor Brann the wrong way.

Marine’s second goal had an air of controversy about it. A quick free kick sent Sam Turl clear down the right. He hit a tantalising cross that was met with a close range diving header by Levi Irving to put Marine 2-1 in front in the 70th minute.

The home team protested that the kick was taken with a defender out of position and being spoken to by the referee. If the official had summoned the player to him their protest would have legitimacy. If the player approached the referee to complain then the error was the defenders and the allowing of the quick free kick totally in order?

Hungerford then laid siege to Marine’s goal, although a Jake Andrews free kick forced the hosts keeper, Harvey Fox, into a sharp save with ten minutes remaining on the clock.

Then the finale. Elis Watts on 87 minutes hit a well struck shot past Conor Brann. This was then followed in the added time on top of the additional time, by Fabio Lopes scoring the winner sparking euphoria for the home supporters and desolation for those who had travelled the short distance down the M4.

Credit to Hungerford Town who kept going to the end. Elis Watts was particularly impressive for them.

From a Marine perspective this was the second injury time defeat in a week in an away match against play off contenders. There was a brutal cruelty to this repeat ending.

In those final minutes did Marine sit too deep? Were their opponents just too good in applying the pressure? Had the toll of the forty minutes with ten men at Poole Town taken its toll on the Marine legs? Some might argue it was a combination of these factors.

However, when one moves beyond the immediate anguish there is a need to recognise that Marine losing by such fine margins in away matches against two playoff contending teams whilst frustrating in terms of a points return is encouraging in terms of the quality of performance.

If the team keep battling and playing this way the wins will return soon enough.

Come on Marine!

Editors Hungerford Star Man: Ellis Watts
Editors Marine Star Men: Sam Turl
Attendance: 474

Line Ups

Hungerford Town
Manager: Danny Robinson
Colours: White & Black Line-up: 1. Nick Harvey 3. Ramarni Medford-Smith 5. Jack Wright 6. Matt Berry-Hargraves 7. Sam De St Croix (12. Jacob Gardiner-Smith 83’) 8. Brad Hooper (2. Jack Alexander 83’) 10. Conor McDonagh 11. Fabio Lopes 14. Ellis Watts 17. Jack Stanley 18. Adulai Sambu (9. Great Evans 77’)
Subs Not Used: 4. Baboucarr Jarra, 16. Louis Paget
Goalscorers: Conor McDonagh 48’pen, Ellis Watts 88’, Fabio Lopes 90+5’
Cards:
Adulai Sambu 13’, Jack Stanley 49’, Fabio Lopes 57’
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Swindon Supermarine
Head Coach: Stuart Fleetwood
Colours: All Red
Line-up: 1. Conor Brann 2. Sam Turl 3. Ryan Campbell 4. Mat Liddiard 5. Ioan Richards 6. Jake Andrews (15. Liban Ibrahim 90’) 7. Henry Spalding (16. Zack Kotwica 71’) 8. Jamie Edge (c) 9. Dave Sims-Burgess 10. Joe Tumelty 11. Levi Irving
Subs not used: 12. Toby Raison, 13. Billy Thomas, 14 Shea Mannings
Goalscorers: Dave Sims-Burgess 28’, Levi Irving 70’
Cards:
Jake Andrews 47’, Sam Turl 75’
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Match Gallery

Click here to view Courtesy of Alex White Photography

Team Sheet

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Match Officials

Referee: Adam Gregory
Assistant Referees: Lloyd Kettlety, Carl Rooney