Marine 2 Swindon Town U18s 1

Match Report from Pete Crockett

Marine win an entertaining match

Supermarine’s Imagine Cruising Stadium looked pristine for the visit of Swindon Town’s U18’s team. The Robin’s team included a few players who had some first team experience. The match was an entertaining encounter with both sides playing some impressive passing football. The home team posed the first attacking threat of note. A threaded Jamie Edge pass found Jonny Efedje on the right whose dangerous cross caused some palpitations in the Robin’s defence.

With five minutes elapsed some precise Swindon Town passing across the face of the Marine penalty area played in Joel McGregor. The fullback cut in from the right but his effort from 20 yards was always rising over the crossbar.

The pace and energy of the Town team was seeing Marine have to dig deep defensively. A good example of this was in the 10th minute when a crisp interchange of passes on the right wing saw a low cross driven into the Marine area. However, the cross was well anticipated by Josh Grant who having intercepted the cross calmly cleared the danger.

Jamie Edge in the middle of the action
Photo’s from Alex White photography

In the 12th minute Marine went close to opening the scoring. Jonny Efedje hit an inch perfect cross to the front post which was met by an excellent glancing header from Sid Gbla. However, the striker’s deft header was well saved by Anton Robinson in the away team’s goal.

Some ten minutes later Marine went close again. The pacey Jonny Efedje hit yet another excellent cross from the right flank but Sid Gbla’s header was deflected wide by the head of a Robin’s defender.

Town were starting to pass the ball well and Marine were having to show some strong defensive tenacity. An excellent example of this was when with a Town player shaping up to fire an effort on goal from the edge of the box T’wanna Changa made a courageous block to nullify the danger.

Nick Rhodes holds of Jaxon Brown
Photo’s from Alex White photography

With twenty minutes left in the half Town should have taken the lead. Joel McGregor hit an inch perfect cross for Jaxon Brown who will have been disappointed not to have hit the target with a close-range header. On the half hour mark Town went close again when Harrison Minturn’s surging run from deep played in Dani Gonzalez who fired over from close range.

The early stages of the second half was very much a battle of the midfields with both teams grappling for ascendancy. Whilst these periods of a match are not laden with goal scoring opportunities they tell you an awful lot about a team’s character. It was pleasing to see Marine prepared to go toe-to-toe to match the fitness levels and tenacity of full-time professionals.

On 54 minutes Marine created the first meaningful opening of the second half when a sumptuous cross field pass from Sal Abubakar sent Dan Warre clear. Advancing down what would, in bygone days, have been called the inside left channel the strikers 20-yard effort cleared the bar.

Dan Warre in action just before he shot over the bar
Photo’s from Alex White photography

With 64 minutes on the clock Marine took the lead. Josh Grant hit a delectable pass over the visitors back four to give Sid Gbla a run on goal. A rightward feint and then he cut inside, having wrong footed the keeper, he rolled the ball into an empty net for a very well worked goal.

Three minutes later Marine created another opening with some good build up play offering James Harding a half chance. However, the striker’s 20-yard strike cleared the goal.

The Robins equalised in the 67th minute. Marine did not clear their area with the ball pin-balling off defenders into the path of the Town’s Harry Gray who, from 15-yards, calmly hammered his shot inside the upright.

Sid Gbla scores the opening goal
Photo’s from Alex White photography

With twelve minutes of the match remaining Sal Abubakar advanced with pace into the area leaving his marker in his wake. The Marine wide man opted to fire a shot at goal that went wide of the near post. It might have been the case that the better choice was to square the ball across the face of the goal.

Something easy to say from the comfort of the stands and much harder to execute with the goal in range and whilst moving at pace. These situations are best seen through the glass half full mindset that I would rather a miss, having got into position to pose a goal threat, than a player not showing the energy and courage to make that initial run.

On 86 minutes Marine took the lead for a second time. Some pleasing build up play saw Dayo Sonoiki time his run to perfection to break clear of the Robin’s back four. He advanced towards goal and fired a low shot under the body of the diving keeper.

Dayo Sonoiki scores our second and winning goal
Photo’s from Alex White photography

Some will say the keeper should have done better. I prefer to praise the well-timed run and the fact that by getting his effort on target the Marine player gave himself a chance to get on the scoresheet.

Marine saw the final minutes out with relative ease although in injury time Marine’s Olly Case was called upon to make a brave block to snuff out a Town shot on goal.

This was a thoroughly entertaining match helped by referee Collins and his team who allowed the game to flow. They were unobtrusive but exuded calm authority in the rare instances this was needed.

Piotr Petrynski wins the header
Photo’s from Alex White photography

Several Swindon Town players caught the eye. Joel McGregor showed his quality at right back; Harrison Minturn looked impressive at centre back; and George Alston showed some nice touches. If they had a disappointment it was probably that they struggled to create clear openings in the top third.

For Marine there were a number of positives. The main one that struck me was the strong fitness levels against opponents who are training full-time. Defensively the team looked solid with Piotr Petrynski putting in a very good shift at left back and Josh Grant producing a player of the match display.

The midfield battled hard but also showed good passing quality – Jamie Edge is thriving on the freedom to play in more advanced positions. The wide men in Sal Abubakar and Jonny Efedje have that factor opposing full backs fear - the pace to leave their marker for dead.

Josh Grant, the editors star man
Photo’s from Alex White photography

Whilst up front Sid Gbla finished his goal well and, in my view, produced his best performance thus far. To be honest there are many others whose endeavours I could have praised - this was an excellent team effort.

The Marine manager Bobby Wilkinson in his post-match comments said that he was “…proud of this bunch of lads and with the way they performed tonight against a well organised side who had some players with first-team experience…Sid and Dayo took their goals well and both goals were well worked, following what we had been working on in training last week.”

A good team performance from those in blue and white - come on Marine!

Attendance: 161

SWINDON SUPERMARINE
Manager: Bobby Wilkinson
Colours: Blue & White Hoops
Line-up: 1. George Legg 2. Sam Turl (c) 3. Piotr Petrynski 4. Nick Rhodesl (14. Josh Blyth 46’) 5. Josh Grant (16. Olly Case 70’) 6. T’wanna Changa (19. Dayo Sonoiki 70’) 7. Sal Abubakar (17. Cheldon Valere 70’) 8. Jamie Edge (18 Josh Beadle 70’ 9. Dan Warre 10. Sid Gbla (15 Marley Roberts 75’ 11. Jonny Efedje
Subs not used: 13. Nick Harvey
Goalscorers: Sid Gbla 64’, Dayo Sonoiki 86’
Editors Star Man: Josh Grant
Cards:
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SWINDON TOWN U18s
Manager: Kirk McGinn Line-up: 1. Anton Robinson 2. Joel McGregor (20. Jo Owiti 62’) 3. Owen Foye 4. Harrison Minturn (c) 5. Finlay Tombs (19. Lucas Griffiths-Brown 80’) 6. Teddy Moulder 7. Jacob Hagan (14. Ryan Larkins 62’) 8. George Alston 9. Jaxon Brown 10. Dani Gonzalez (15. Tom Mercer 75’) 11. Harry Gray
Subs not used: 12. Francis Abijo, 13. Charlie Summers
Goalscorers: Harry Gray 68’
Editors Star Man: Joel McGregor
Cards:
Teddy Moulder 35’
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Match Gallery

Photo’s
Courtesy of Alex White Photography

Match Officials

Referee: Caine Collins
Assistant Referees: Shaun McCombie, Paul Booth