Larkhall Athletic 1 Marine 2

Match Report from Pete Crockett

Partridge Downs the Larks

The setting was almost Arcadian. Beyond Plain Ham, Larkhall’s home ground, the countryside rolled away in gentle folds, its green slopes dotted with cottages and farmhouses, the first intimations of autumn lending a mellow charm to the landscape.

It was a scene to detain a landscape painter for hours. Footballers, however, are less inclined to contemplate the picturesque, and once referee James Salt set proceedings in motion pastoral reflection was swiftly forgotten.

What followed gave fresh currency to that most familiar of footballing clichés – “a game of two halves.” Marine were comfortably superior before the interval, playing with considerable fluency but insufficient reward. Larkhall, transformed after the break, responded with such spirit that they might reasonably consider themselves unfortunate not to emerge with a point. Yet football, that most capricious of games, sometimes reserves its cruellest verdict until the very last moment.

Marine began purposefully. Within four minutes Marcel Lewis, displaying nimble footwork, fashioned an opening fifteen yards from goal. His low drive was expertly turned away by Liam Armstrong, once of Supermarine, and Conor Lynch, attempting to retrieve the opportunity from an awkward angle, could only steer wide. It was an early indication of the evening awaiting Armstrong, whose positioning and agility would repeatedly frustrate his former colleagues.

On fourteen minutes a sweeping move from right to left saw Tyger Hall deftly lift a bouncing ball over the advancing Armstrong. A goal seemed inevitable, but a retreating Larkhall defender, possibly Charlie Sidhu, somehow contrived a remarkable hooked clearance. When Lynch seized upon the loose ball other defenders threw themselves into the breach to the follow up with another clearance of the line again and complete an extraordinary escape.

The hosts were not without attacking ambition. A minute later Jack Camm sent a skidding cross-shot through the Marine penalty area. Two visiting defenders momentarily impeded one another, but Joel Halliday was sufficiently alert to avert the danger.

The greater threat remained at the other end. On twenty minutes Brad Hooper drew another fine save from Armstrong, and ten minutes later Lewis, with an audacious backheel, released Dan Warre into space. Warre surged towards goal, only to find Armstrong equal to the challenge. Seconds later the goalkeeper repelled a deflected effort from the same player.

Marine supporters were experiencing that uncomfortable mixture of admiration and exasperation: admiration for Armstrong’s excellence, exasperation that so much accomplished approach play had yielded so little reward.

The deadlock was finally broken in the thirty-ninth minute. A sweeping interchange of passes released Brad Hooper into a one-on-one confrontation with Armstrong. Advancing into the area the midfielder opened his body and guided the ball with unerring precision inside the goalkeeper’s left-hand post. It was a finish of considerable finesse, demonstrating that goalscoring owes as much to poise and placement as to power.

Larkhall threatened in first-half added time when Halliday, at full stretch, parried a cross into the path of a home player, whose tame header was comfortably gathered. Marine retired for their half time break a goal ahead, though doubtless with the nagging suspicion that their superiority merited a more commanding advantage.

The second half began with another Marine opportunity. A partially cleared corner reached Zach Rugman, whose firm header from fifteen yards was again repelled by Armstrong. Thereafter, however, the contest underwent a marked transformation.

Larkhall emerged rejuvenated, pressing with greater conviction, contesting loose balls more fiercely and gradually forcing Marine onto the defensive. The visitors, previously so assured in possession became careless in their passing and struggled to relieve the mounting pressure. Such are football’s shifting fortunes: a misplaced pass here, a lost challenge there, and suddenly the side dictating proceedings finds itself dancing to another’s tune. At Plain Ham, the pendulum had swung towards the Larks.

The equaliser arrived in the sixty-second minute, a goal of exceptional quality. Intelligent pressing then passing released substitute Ben Cleary into what used to be known as the inside-left channel. Advancing into the area Cleary unleashed a thunderous angled drive into the roof of Halliday’s net. It was a strike of such purity that even the most partisan Marine supporter could scarcely begrudge its excellence.

Larkhall now held the initiative, their growing confidence demanding increasingly resolute defending. Jowan Partridge and Rhys Tyler were particularly steadfast, combining strength and anticipation to withstand the home side’s advances.

On seventy minutes Larkhall appealed for a penalty, initially for a perceived trip and then for handball. Referee James Salt, well positioned, was unmoved. Marine promptly counterattacked through Sal Abubakar, whose searing pace down the right was becoming an increasingly troublesome proposition for the home defence.

As an aside, referee Salt and his two assistants deserve credit for their assured and unobtrusive officiating. They allowed the match to flow with minimal interruption.

As the contest entered added time a draw seemed inevitable. Larkhall could take satisfaction from their spirited recovery, while Marine appeared destined to settle for a point after a searching examination of their resilience.

But the final act was yet to unfold. Three minutes into added time, Marine won a free kick. Miles Ferguson rose to meet Zack Rugman’s delivery and his header fell invitingly to Jowan Partridge, who struck with unerring conviction into the roof of the net.

The contrasting emotions were immediate. Marine’s players and supporters erupted in jubilation, while Larkhall stood crestfallen, their spirited recovery undone at the death. Partridge, already outstanding in defence, had become the match-winner.

Larkhall deserved immense credit for a second-half performance that might have earned them a point, perhaps more. Equally, Marine could reflect on the opportunities squandered during their first half dominance, when the contest should have been settled long before its dramatic conclusion.

There were distinguished contributions throughout the visiting side. Partridge and Tyler were resolute in defence, whilst midfielder Rugman combined tenacity with skill. Yet the outstanding performer was Conor Lynch, whose attacking enterprise was matched by an exceptional willingness to defend. One remarkable intervention saw him track back to clear a dangerous ball destined for a Larkhall attacker at the far post. It epitomised his selfless contribution.

Ultimately, this was another triumph of collective character. Marine had played with first half fluency, endured second half adversity, and found the injury time resolve to strike at the death. Three successive away victories, nine points and a return to the summit speak eloquently of a side acquiring that invaluable habit of finding ways to win.

Come on Marine!

Attendance: 167

LINE UP’S

LARKHALL ATHLETIC

Manager:	John Durbin
Line-up:	Colours: Red & Black
No	Player	Goals	Card	No	Substitute	Goals	Card
1.	Liam Armstrong [GK]
2.	Jeff Forku
3.	Jeff Barimah
4.	Charlie Sidhu
5.	Dion Molyneuz
6.	Will Banks			15.	Harry Martinez 82’
7.	Stan Wyatt			14.	Ryan Beckinsale 81’
8.	Jack Camm (c)		17’
9.	Harvey Pritchard			17.	Ben Cleary 46’	62’
10.	Josh Morgan
11.	Rhys Simmonds			16.	Seb Scott 72’

Subs not used: 12. Sam Boulton
Editors Star Man: Liam Armstrong

MARINE

Manager:	Bobby Wilkinson
Line-up:	Colours: All Yellow
No:	Player	Goals	Card	No	Substitute	Goals	Card
1.	Joel Halliday (GK)
2.	Sam Turl (c)
3.	Rhys Tyler
4.	Miles Ferguson
5.	Jowan Partridge	93’
6.	Zach Rugman
7.	Marcel Lewis			16.	Tawana Changa 59’
8.	Brad Hooper	39’	54’	12.	Jacob Bancroft 76’
9	Dan Warre			14.	Sal Abubakar 59’
10.	Conor Lynch
11.	Tyger-J Hall

Subs not used: 15. Jamie Edge, 17. Teddy Moulder
Editors Star Player: Conor Lynch