Marine 2 Bideford AFC 2

Match Report from Pete Crockett

ASAMOAH SCORES A BRACE BUT BIDEFORD FIGHT BACK TO SHARE THE POINTS

On a balmy April afternoon, with the season drifting towards its conclusion and urgency softened by safety secured this proved a contest of contrasting moods - one half belonging to Swindon Supermarine, the other to a resilient Bideford.

Marine began with a fluency that suggested a side liberated rather than fatigued. Within eight minutes JONNY ASAMOAH had opened the scoring, applying a deft finish from ten yards after Sal Abubakar’s mesmeric trickery had unbalanced the defence.

It might have been more, much more. Zach Rugman, gifted an early opportunity by a wayward clearance, lifted over with the goal invitingly unguarded. Conor McDonagh, lively and inventive, was denied by a goal saving tackle from Louis Slough.

Later in the half Max Hemmings struck the post, and Asamoah, stretching, forced an excellent save from visiting keeper Shaun Semmens. Yet the second goal did arrive, JONNY ASAMOAH rising decisively to head home Rugman’s pinpoint cross.

Then came the shift. Within a minute of the restart JACK WINSOR struck home with emphatic force, altering the rhythm and complexion of the game.

Bideford, now invigorated, pressed with growing authority. Brad Williams flashed a dangerous ball across goal, and soon after JAVAN WRIGHT, alert and opportunistic, dispossessed a defender and got the visitor’s second driving his shot low into the corner to level.

From there, the visitors appeared the more likely. Winsor threatened again only to be denied by an excellent Luke Purnell save, Wright shot narrowly wide, and only a fine last-ditch tackle from Dayo Sonoiki preserved parity.

Surprisingly the closing quarter of an hour, by contrast, ebbed away with both sides cancelling the other. A draw, then, both just and faintly puzzling - two halves, two totally different narratives, and an outcome of a point a piece.

Come on Marine!

Attendance: 335

Manager:	Bobby Wilkinson
Line-up:	Colours: Blue & White Hoops
No	Player	Goals	Card	No	Substitute	Goals	Card
1	Luke Purnell (c) [GK]
2	Sam Turl
3	Piotr Petrynski
4	Miles Ferguson			14	Dayo Sonoiki 63’
5	Jamie Edge
6	Tawana Changa
7	Jonny Asamoah	8’, 39’
8	Max Hemmings (c)			15	Frankie Monk 84’
9	Conor McDonagh			12	Sid Gbla 61’
10	Zach Rugman
11	Sal Abubakar

Editors Star Man: Jonny Asamoah
Subs not used: None

Manager:	Sean Joyce
Line-up:	Colours: All Red
No	Player	Goals	Card	No	Substitute	Goals	Card
1.	Shaun Semmens [GK]
2.	Jack Winsor	46’
3.	Alex Byrne(c)
4.	Jamie Down			15.	Brad Williams 46’
5.	Aaron Taylor
6.	Louie Slough
7.	Finn Roberts
8.	Archie Reay
9.	Ryan Turner			12.	Harvey Field 17’
10.	Farren Simmons			14.	George King 88’
11.	Javan Wright	57’

Editors Star Man: Jack Winsor Subs not used: None