Marine 1 Sholing 2

Match Report from Pete Crockett

MARINE SUFFER DEFEAT ON OPENING DAY

Marine’s league season started disappointingly with a home defeat. That said as the home supporters left the ground most seemed of the mindset that the visitors fully deserved their victory.

Swindon Supermarine started brightly and went close in the 8th minute when Ryan Campbell broke down the left flank. His cross was collected by Dave Sims-Burgess who deftly laid off the ball into the path of Michael Fernandes whose effort was well saved by Sholing keeper Ross Warner.

The game then settled into a pattern where Sholing had the greater possession but Marine always looked as if they could pose a threat on the counter attack.

On the half hour mark Marine’s Holland embarked on a driving run at the visitor’s back four. His run was ended when he was fouled just outside the penalty area. TOBY HOLLAND picked himself up and hit a peach of a twenty yard free kick inside the near post to put Marine one up.

Action from the defeat against Sholing

On 43 minutes the Boatmen nearly equalised when some good interplay between Dan Fitchett and Dan Mason saw Fitchett’s shot on target but it was turned over the bar by an acrobatic Jake Lee goal line clearance.

Marine desperately needed a second and in the 52nd minute a scintillating Michael Fernandes run saw him miscue a shot past the post. In the 57th minute the same player again ran at the Sholing defence but this time his shot was well saved by the visiting keeper Worner.

As the second half progressed Sholing started to increasingly win the midfield skirmishes. It was thus no surprise when in the 63rd minute they equalised with an excellent top corner finish from DAN FITCHETT after some crisp passing created the opening.

The Boatmen were now in the ascendancy and on 73 minutes they scored what was to prove to be the winning goal. A sharp break saw a blocked effort fall to CHARLIE GUNSON who rifled the ball inside the Marine keeper’s near post from 18-yards.

Whilst Marine applied some pressure in the final ten minutes they rarely looked like troubling a resolute visitor’s defence who saw the game out for a deserved victory.

One game down what are the positives and issues of concern for Marine. The positives were a first half performance where the team very much went toe to toe with Sholing. Additionally, Michael Fernandes and Toby Holland when going forward posed an impressive threat from midfield.

The concerns. In the second half the visitors increasingly dominated the midfield and this enabled them to build some momentum. Furthermore, the Marine strikers rarely received passes in areas which would enable them to play to their undoubted strengths.

One game down but still 123 points to play for! Come on Marine!

Editors Marine Star Man: Michael Fernandes
Editors Sholing Star Man: Dan Fitchett
Attendance: 258

Line Ups

SWINDON SUPERMARINE
Head Coach: Stuart Fleetwood
Colours: Blue & White Hoops
Line-up: 1. Luke Purnell 2. Sam Turl (12. Liban Ibrahim 46’) 3. Ryan Campbell 4. Nick Peare 5. Jake Lee 6. Jamie Edge 7. Zack Kotwica 8. Toby Holland 9. Dave Sims-Burgess 10. Michael Fernandes (14.Olly Mehew 65’) 11. Harry Williams
Subs not used: 15. Ioan Richards 16. Gabe Reivers 17. Alex Hallett
Goalscorers: Toby Holland 33’
Cards:
Jamie Edge 14’, Michael Fernandes 48’, Nick Peare 74’, Zack Kotwica 90+5’
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SHOLING
Manager: Paul Doswell
Colours: Red & White Halves
Line-up: 1. Ross Worner 2. Benny Reid (12. Marvin McLean 65’) 5. Dan Miller 6. Harry Taylor 7. Charlie Gunson 9. Dan Fitchett 10. Jack Hesketh (14. Seung Yang 80’) 11. Brad Target (17. Frankie Monk 65’) 18. Joe Rabbetts 19 Jacob Gardner-Smith 20 Dan Fitchett
Subs Not Used: 3. Jack Flannigan, 16. Billy Stedman
Goalscorers: Dan Fitchett 64’ Charlie Gunson 73’
Cards:
Benny Reid 11’, Harry Taylor 33’, Seung Yang 87’
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Match Gallery

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Courtesy of Alex White Photography

Team Sheet

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Courtesy of the Pitching In Southern League

Match Officials

Referee: Jake Wooley
Assistant Referees: Simon Laraway, Billy Wilde