Marine 1 Harrow 2

Match Report from Aleck Everard

LATE SHOW FROM THE BOROUGH AS MARINE PAY THE PRICE

Swindon Supermarine returned to action against Harrow Borough after a three-week absence due to weather with a massive Wednesday night FA Trophy cup tie at the Webbswood with the juicy carrot of a home tie against FC Halifax Town awaiting the winners in the fourth round proper.

Jamie Edge was back in the starting eleven
Photo © Rob Mashford Photography Match Album

Manager Lee Spalding was forced into a triple change from the previous outing at Bracknell Town with Ty Duffus injured and replaced by Leon Morrison, alongside the cup-tied duo of Joe Tumelty and Will Tunnicliff with Henry Spalding and Jamie Edge back in the team. With Borough also having had the last two weekends off the game started a bit tentatively on the slick surface, the first chance coming on five minutes when George Moore fired wide.

George Moore’s effort clipped the top of the bar
Photo © Rob Mashford Photography Match Album

Harrow settled first and started to exert some pressure with Sam Turl and Mat Liddiard defending well to blunt the attacks but on seventeen minutes following a corner Moore went close again with an effort flicking off the bar. Some slack play at the back almost saw Montel Brown in for Harrow but he fired over just before the twenty-five-minute mark.

Sam Turl defended well with Mat Liddiard
Photo © Rob Mashford Photography Match Album

Marine finally started to find their feet on the half hour with a great team move seeing Sam Turl’s ball in just elude a clean finish from top scorer Harry Williams. But slowly the hosts were upping the pressure. A Henry Spalding effort was blocked following a free kick and with thirty-five minutes on the board and some more pressure Ahmet Biler blocked an effort on goal with his hand and a penalty was awarded, but no card was given as the referee the deemed the ball as going wide.

Sam Turl’s ball in just elude a clean finish from top scorer Harry Williams
Photo © Rob Mashford Photography Match Album

HARRY WILLIAMS stepped up to drill the ball home for his 24th goal of the campaign and give Marine an unlikely lead. Henry Spalding was then booked for an innocuous challenge just before half time, but Marine went in confident having seen off the storm early on.

Harry Williams stepped up to drill the ball home for his 24th goal of the campaign
Photo © Rob Mashford Photography Match Album

In the early part of the second period, they showed that confidence as Marine came flying out of the traps. Zack Kotwica rounding Harrow keeper Knightbridge from almost kick off but the keeper got back to block his shot and it was deflected wide. The lively George Moore had another go from range on fifty minutes, but Liam Armstrong was able to parry it away in the home goal.

Mat Liddiard rose high at the back post to easily nod home, only to then be denied by the referee’s whistle
Photo © Rob Mashford Photography Match Album

But it was a strong start as Marine looked to kill the tie and from a free kick on the edge of the box George Dowling hit a fierce swerving effort, but Harrow custodian Jacob Knightsbridge flew through the air to deny him the goal. Everyone in the ground accept one believed the second goal had finally arrived on the hour, when from the resulting Spalding corner skipper Mat Liddiard rose high at the back post to easily nod home, only to then be denied by the referee’s whistle as he deemed Liddiard’s hands were across the Harrow players shoulders? It looked more than harsh and was to prove a costly decision for Marine!

George Dowling hit a fierce swerving effort, but Harrow custodian Jacob Knightsbridge flew through the air to deny him the goal
Photo © Rob Mashford Photography Match Album

The visitors decided to break on some extra firepower with a double change but once again George Dowling almost sealed the deal with a long-range effort only for Knightsbridge to prove the hero again for Borough with a top save. Harrow now went all out on the attack with the game slipping away and with the changes having effect Marine were outnumbered at the back and a close-range header at the back post from the unmarked KAL OMOKO BROSNAN who levelled the scores with twenty minutes to go.

Brosnan’s header levelled the scores with twenty minutes to go
Photo © Rob Mashford Photography Match Album

Connor McDonagh replaced Dowling on seventy-five minutes as Marine went for it themselves. Kotwica had a free kick effort over the bar soon after, but it was Harrow who would end up stealing the win when BILLY LEONARD struck an effort in at the near post which eluded Liam Armstrong at the near post from 25 yards. Marine could not find a response and at full time found themselves on the wrong end of the scoreline and out of the FA Trophy.

Harrow’s Billy Leonard struck an effort in at the near post which eluded Liam Armstrong
Photo © Rob Mashford Photography Match Album

A disappointing end to what had been a solid hour of play undone perhaps by a couple of key decisions that went against them. Time now to concentrate on pushing up the league with North Leigh up next at home on Boxing Day.

Fans player of the match went to Sam Turl. Attendance: 211

Line Ups

Swindon Supermarine
Manager: Lee Spalding
Colours: Blue & White Hoops / Blue / Blue
Line-up: 1. Liam Armstrong 2. Sam Turl 3. Ryan Campbell 4. Jamie Edge 5. Leon Morrison 6. Mat Liddiard (c) 7. Henry Spalding 8. Brad Hooper 9. Harry Williams 10. George Dowling (12. Conor McDonagh 75’) 11. Zack Kotwica
Subs not used: 14. James Harding, 15. Tom Sharpe, 17. Casey-Spencer-Harding
Goalscorers: Harry Williams 36’pen
Editors Star Man: Sam Turl
Cards:
Henry Spalding 41’, Sam Turl 90+4’
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None

Harrow Borough
Manager: Steve Baker
Colours: All Red
Line-up: 1. Jacob Knightbridge 2. Keegan Bloom 3. Ahmet Biler 4. Shaun Preddie (c) 5. Izunna Ikebuasi 6. Isiah Noel-Williams (16. Johnny Allotey 63’) 7. George Moore 8. Billy Leonard 9. Montel Brown (12. Kamon-Sherrell Assidjo 63’) 10. Kai Omoko Brosnan 11. Olatunbosun Adenola
Subs not used: 13. Charles Taylor [GK], 14. Jayden Sharman 15. Prince Kandolo
Goalscorer: Kai Omoko Brosnan 70’ Billy Leonard 85’
Editors Star Man: Billy Leonard
Cards:
Shaun Preddie 41’, Izunna Ikebuasi 90+4
None
None

Supermarine TV

Highlights
Courtesy of Mike Wray

Match Album

Photo’s Courtesy of Rob Mashford Photography

Match Officials

Referee: Lewis Sandoe (Christchurch)
Assistant Referees: David Pilling (Tadley), Stephen Hawkins (Aldershot)
Fourth Official: Gareth Dunn (Salisbury)