Marine 1 Falmouth Town 1

Match Report from Pete Crockett

Spoils shared, entertainment abundant

There are draws which deserve to be forgotten almost as soon as the final whistle sounds, and others which remind us why football remains such a compelling spectacle. This encounter between Swindon Supermarine and Falmouth Town belonged emphatically to the latter category.

Both teams approached the contest with attacking ambition, and if neither could claim victory, neither could reasonably complain at the division of the spoils.

Falmouth Town were an impressive footballing side. Their passing was crisp, their movement intelligent and their ability to progress the ball through the thirds of the pitch suggested a team well schooled in the virtues of possession. Marine, for their part, offered resilience, determination and sufficient attacking invention to have won on another afternoon.

The visitors provided the first warning when Tawana Changa was required to clear off the line following an early corner. Marine soon responded. Tyger Hall, a persistent threat throughout, twice tested Falmouth goalkeeper Morgan Jones, first with a powerful free kick and then with an effort fashioned by some clever footwork. Marcel Lewis also forced Jones into action from a narrow angle.

The match developed into an absorbing exchange of attack and counterattack, with neither side inclined to surrender the initiative. On 30 minutes Rhys Tyler, whose energy and enterprise were prominent features of Marine’s performance won possession with a determined challenge before surging forward to create an opportunity for Zach Rugman. His shot, however, was directed straight at Jones.

At the other end, Joel Halliday denied the Cornish team’s Luke Barner, but the Falmouth player was not to be frustrated for long. In the 33rd minute, awarded a free kick some 25 yards from goal, Luke Barner struck a magnificent effort which cleared the wall and flew beyond the airborne Halliday’s reach. The Marine goalkeeper managed to get his hands to the ball, but such was its velocity that resistance proved futile.

Marine might have restored equality before the interval. Tyler cut inside from the left and dispatched a beautifully curling shot towards the far corner. Jones, stretching to his utmost, somehow diverted the ball onto the crossbar. It was goalkeeping of the highest order.

The woodwork was to intervene again eight minutes after the restart, and this time in even more spectacular circumstances. Receiving Rugman’s long throw with his back to goal, Tyger Hall produced an audacious overhead kick which sailed beyond the astonished visiting defenders and goalkeeper, only to crash against the crossbar. It was an extraordinary piece of improvisation, worthy of a goal and unfortunate not to produce one.

Marine’s disappointment was brief. Within minutes Jowan Partridge rose imperiously to meet a cross and powered his header beyond Jones to restore parity.

For a period the home side threatened to overwhelm their opponents. Jones was again called upon to tip a header over the bar, while substitute Joe Shepherd and Partridge sought unsuccessfully to profit from another corner. Yet Falmouth possessed too much quality to remain subdued. Gradually they recovered their composure and rediscovered their passing rhythm.

Here lay perhaps the most revealing tactical aspect of the afternoon. Falmouth’s capacity to retain possession and construct attacks with patience was admirable. However, in the second half Marine were much more effective at closing those inviting pockets of space the visitors had found more easily in the first forty-five minutes.

As the final whistle approached Marine keeper Joel Halliday was obliged to make further sharp saves, and the closing minutes brought something approaching a final minutes siege of the home goal. Twice Falmouth substitute Josh Symons appeared poised to snatch victory, only for Partridge and Sam Turl to produce point-saving defensive interventions.

Thus ended a contest in which attacking ambition was matched by defensive courage. There were fine saves, outstanding blocks, two splendid goals, and sufficient near misses to leave both camps contemplating what might have been. Referee Adam McAnoy and his assistants deserve particular credit for their assured handling of a match played with commitment but in an admirable spirit.

Reflecting afterwards I felt Falmouth had impressed more than Dorchester in their recent victory at the Imagine Cruising Stadium. Where Dorchester’s success had carried something of the smash-and-grab about it, the Cornish visitors displayed a coherent passing philosophy, allied to the technical ability and intelligence to put it into practice.

Marine, however, should take considerable encouragement from their own performance. Their defending was resolute when circumstances demanded it; their attacking play and set pieces often inventive; their wingers and overlapping full backs a constant threat; and their willingness to compete never in question.

Beyond the afternoon’s entertainment lies a more substantial reason for Marine optimism. Ten points from their last four matches tells its own story. Furthermore, last season, it was not until February 23rd that Marine reached the 28 points they currently possess. Progress in football is not always easily measured, but here the evidence is difficult to dispute.

As for this encounter two sides had sought victory with commendable ambition, neither had achieved it, yet there was little sense of disappointment at the final whistle. Football does not always require a winner to produce a thoroughly satisfying afternoon. This match was persuasive evidence of that.

Come on Marine!

Attendance: 226

LINE UP’S

MARINE

Manager:	Bobby Wilkinson
Line-up:	Colours: Blue & White Hoops
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	58’
6.	Zach Rugman
7.	Marcel Lewis			14.	Sal Abubakar 65’
8.	Brad Hooper
9.	Conor Lynch			12.	Jacob Bancroft 74’
10.	Tawana Changa			15.	Joe Shepherd 79’
11.	Tyger-J Hall

Subs not used: 16. Jamie Edge, 17. Teddy Moulder
The Editors Star Player: Rhys Tyler

FALMOUTH TOWN

Manager:	John Fabby
Line-up:	Colours: Amber & Black
No	Player	Goals	Card	No	Substitute	Goals	Card
1.	Morgan Jones [GK]
2.	Max Cook
3.	Malachi Davey
4.	Jared Sims (c)
5.	Tom Annear
7.	Luke Barner	33’
9.	Liam Pryn			10.	Jack Symons 75’
11.	Oscar Massey
15.	Oliver Evans
16.	Andy Elcock			8.	Jack Webber 74’
19.	Harrison Jewell

Subs not used: 6. Brad Leivers, 18. Aaron Ibbetson
Editors Star Player: Luke Barner