Malvern Town 4 Marine 2

Match Report from Pete Crockett

MARINE BOW OUT BENEATH THE MALVERN SUN

Swindon Supermarine, resilient, and at times rather eye catching, succumbed 4–2 to a Malvern Town side already assured of their play-off place - although the narrative of this match was as much shaped by officiating as by football.

Marine began with purpose. Inside eight minutes Tawana Changa lashed a half-volley from 20-yards that skimmed just over. Yet Malvern, composed and opportunistic, edged into prominence.

JOE TUMELTY, once of this parish, first squandered a opportunity, and then spectacularly redeemed himself. On 22 minutes he collected possession, shifted the ball slightly, and from 25-yards dispatched a quite exquisite strike into the top corner. What followed, however, tipped the match into something approaching the surreal.

Two minutes later Jamie Edge was dismissed for hauling down Tumelty on the right flank. The referee, swift and unhesitating, produced red with the conviction of a man certain of what he saw.

Suffice it to say others observed that the scene lacked the clarity of a true denial of a goalscoring opportunity. Distance, angle, and defensive cover seemed, to some, curiously absent from the officials decision making. However, football is about differing opinions and not everything is clear cut.

Marine’s grievances deepened. On the half-hour, Changa appeared felled by forceful contact, yet play flowed on, culminating in a fine save from Luke Purnell to deny Ryan Bryant. Then, on 45 minutes, came the moment that truly tilted the emotional axis of the game: a penalty awarded to Malvern for an offence unseen by most present. RYAN BRYANT converted with assurance.

That Marine’s forwards had earlier been subjected to penalty area wrestling more suited to Greco-Roman exhibitions than football only sharpened the visiting supporters sense of injustice. To their credit Marine responded.

In stoppage time Sam Turl surged the length of the field and was tripped. This time the whistle sounded in Marine’s favour. SAL ABUBAKAR dispatched the penalty with composure, halving the deficit. At the interval the travelling support were left with the officiating equivalent of an Arkell’s 3B’s hangover: befuddlement, bamboozlement, and bemusement.

The second half began with uncertainty but quickly gathered intrigue. Tumelty threatened again, before Marine, down to ten yet undaunted, drew level on 49 minutes. A fine move saw Jonny Asamoah release Brad Hooper, who in turn found SAL ABUBAKAR to finish coolly for his second — a well worked goal.

Marine even flirted with an improbable lead. Abubakar’s effort was blocked, Asamoah’s follow-up flew over, and belief flickered. Yet the officiating continued its curious exhibition. On 65 minutes Sam Turl was robustly, some would say blatantly, manhandled into the technical area, play waved on.

A minute later, Sam Clark restored Malvern’s lead with a deft header. Marine pressed valiantly in the closing stages, but the decisive blow came on 87 minutes when a misplaced pass allowed Harry Clark to loft the ball into an unguarded net.

And so it ended: defeat, yes, but a loss that was valiant from a team playing two thirds of the match with ten men against a side vying for the league’s runners up spot. Marine’s players received warm and deserved applause from their travelling support - a recognition not merely of this effort, but of a season salvaged with resolve and spirit.

From the depths of a January relegation struggle to a 12th-place finish theirs has been a campaign of admirable recovery and resilience!

Come on Marine!

Attendance: 473

Manager:	Lee Hooper
Line-up:	Colours: Claret & Sky
No	Player	Goals	Card	No	Substitute	Goals	Card
1.	Josh Bishop [GK]
2.	Luke Payne
4.	Dion Molyneux
5.	Charlie Johnson
6.	Matt MacDonald		47’	3.	Harry Clark 58’	88’
7.	Levi Francis		53’	12.	Piers Walton 75’
8.	Joe Bullock
9.	Ryan Brunt	46’p		14.	Sam Clark 65’	66’
10.	Joe Tumelty (c)	22’
11.	Yuri Quintas			18.	Luke Salter 58’
16.	Matt Fulloway		27’	16.	Reece King 53’

Editors Star Man: Joe Tumelty
Subs not used: None

MARINE

Manager:	Bobby Wilkinson
Line-up:	Colours: All Yellow
No	Player	Goals	Card	No	Substitute	Goals	Card
1	Luke Purnell [GK]
2	Sam Turl (c)		45’
3	Piotr Petrynski			15	Max Hemmings 77’
4	Miles Ferguson
5	Jamie Edge		24’
6	Zach Rugman			16	Dayo Sonoiki 71’
7	Jonathan Asamoah			14	Frankie Monk 76’
8	Tawana Changa
9	Conor McDonagh			15	Olly Case 25’
10	Brad Hooper			12	Sid Gbla 76’
11	Sal Abubakar	46’p,48’

Editors Star Man: Sal Abubakar
Subs not used: None