Marine 1 Bradford Town 1 (Bradford won 7-6pens)

Match Report from Pete Crockett

HOLDERS MARINE KNOCKED OUT OF WILTSHIRE PREMIER SHIELD

On a damp and uninviting November night this Wiltshire Premier Shield tie offered little to stir the spectatorial imagination. What unfolded at the Webbswood Stadium was an encounter short on quality, long on effort, and decided by the lottery of penalties — Bradford Town edging through 7–6 after a 1–1 draw in normal time.

Swindon Supermarine, hampered by an injury list as long as a winter evening — Sam Turl, Josh Grant, Nick Rhodes, Dan Warre and Joe Beardwell all missing — were forced into six changes from their weekend line-up. They nevertheless began brightly, JAMIE EDGE thumping home from the edge of the box after just two minutes when a George Alston cross caused havoc in the Bradford defence.

Marine might have doubled their lead moments later, George Alston again the instigator, though Jonny Efedje could not stretch enough to direct the finishing touch into the back of the net.

After those early alarms the visitors settled moving the ball with growing assurance — this despite a referee whose fondness for the whistle brought the contest far too often to a juddering halt.

Bradford’s equaliser, when it came, was depressingly familiar for Marine supporters. A Jack Farion corner, flicked on by Fabian Stanislas, fell for LEO GALAZZI in the inside right channel to lash a low drive into the net — a near carbon copy of the goal Marine conceded at Larkhall three days earlier.

On the 37th minute the visitors almost went ahead, only for Marine’s Max Hemmings to hurl himself bravely in the way of Jensen Wakefield’s close-range effort.

The second half brought no real change in rhythm or quality. The away team’s Jack Farrion’s teasing cross on 53 minutes invited Raphael Oppong to score, but he did not adjust his body shape in time.

Minutes later Raphael Oppong tried an audacious 45-yard chip that had keeper Theo Robinson retreating anxiously before the ball dropped onto the roof of the net. Wakefield and Oppong both went close again from a swift Bradford counter, while at the other end Dayo Sonoiki saw a late effort hacked off the line.

Robinson then preserved parity with a fine diving stop from Jensen Wakefield’s 25-yard strike, but Marine’s frustration deepened moments later when Sal Abubakar was clearly scythed down in the box. The referee, ever whistling but curiously selective, waved play on — a decision that defied reason and raised more than a few eyebrows among the home faithful.

Penalties followed, and surprisingly for a match where composure was otherwise in short supply both sides held their nerve until Bradford’s seventh kick secured progress.

For Marine, this was a night to forget — an early goal squandered, rhythm elusive, and fortune absent. For Bradford Town, reward for steadiness and effort: a deserved passage into the next round.

Come on Marine!

Attendance: 126

Manager:	Bobby Wilkinson
Line-up:	Colours: Blue & White Hoops
No	Player	Goals	Card	No	Substitute	Goals	Card
1	Anton Robinson [GK]
2	Max Hemmings (c)
3	Tawana Changa
4	Olly Case
5	Josh Blythe
6	Rhys Williams			18	Zach Rugman 56’		90’
7	Jonny Efedje		26’	17	Joe Selman 46’
8	Jamie Edge	2’
9	Fareed Salifu			15	Dayo Sonoiki 56’
10	Frankie Monk			14	Sid Gbla 70’
11	George Alston			16	Sal Abubakar 72’

Editors Star Man: Tawana Changa
Subs not used: Joe Beardwell

Manager:	Chris Carr
Line-up:	Colours: All Orange
No	Player	Goals	Card	No	Substitute	Goals	Card	No	Substitute
1.	Tom Creed [GK]
2.	Jacob Mead			9	Josiah McKayle 83’
3.	Manny Adepitan
4.	Fabian Stanislas (c)
5.	Stan Pagett
7.	Raphael Oppong			9	Scott Bungay 65’
8.	Jack Farion			15	Charlie Warren 60’
10.	Leo Galazzi			19	Harvey Woods 73’
11.	Tom Mack
14.	Owen Allison	32’
16.	Jensen Wakefield

Editors Star Man: Raphael Oppong
Subs not used: 12. Theo Black, 18. Kegan Smart, 20. Nick Hoskins-Jones