Marine 3 Bristol M Farm 1

Match Report from Pete Crockett

Marine Turn on the Style as Winning Run Reaches Five

There are evenings when a football team does rather more than win. For forty-five minutes at the Imagine Cruising Stadium, Swindon Supermarine offered an exhilarating glimpse of how good they can be.

Three goals, all different and all admirable, gave Marine a commanding interval lead over Bristol Manor Farm. The visitors responded spiritedly after the break and ensured that the second half was no procession, but Marine survived the challenge to record a 3-1 victory and extend their winning league run to five matches.

Manager Bobby Wilkinson was understandably delighted, describing his side’s first-half performance as exceptional while also giving generous credit to Manor Farm for having a “right go at us” after the interval. He was equally appreciative of the home support and the increasingly vocal backing his team are receiving.

The first attempt of the match belonged to the visitors, Jacob Hodgson shooting wide from distance inside the opening minute. A minute later former Marine player Joe Beardwell went down in the Marine penalty area – the visitors appealed for a penalty. Had he fallen or had he been fouled? Referee Richard Durie decided upon the former. Those of a Marine persuasion were unlikely to quarrel with his judgement.

At once Marine broke with the speed which was to characterise their first-half football. Miles Ferguson carried the ball confidently from defence before finding Abubakar on the right. The winger accelerated beyond his marker and fired narrowly over from the corner of the area. It was a warning Manor Farm failed to heed.

Marine’s thirteenth minute opening goal was splendid. Sal Abubakar received possession close to the right touchline, dipped one shoulder, then the other, and ghosted beyond the visiting left-back. Another defender was left floundering before Abubakar found DAN WARRE inside the area. Warre continued the theme, cutting inside his man before driving the ball ferociously beyond Owen Crawford. A goal of pace, skill, and considerable quality.

Manor Farm nearly answered immediately, Asa Cornick nudging the ball into Bailey Croome’s path, but his effort cleared the bar. Charlie White later delivered a dangerous cross towards Beardwell at the far post, only for Marine keeper Joel Halliday to gather securely. But the greater threat remained Marine’s, particularly down the flanks.

Abubakar and Tyger-J Hall were giving the visiting full-backs an uncomfortable time. Abubakar’s changes of direction were particularly destructive; on one occasion his marker was left almost spinning on the spot before the winger found Joe Shepherd, whose shot was gathered by Crawford.

On the half-hour Marine doubled their advantage, this time through one of the imaginative attacking set-pieces which have become a feature of their season. A cleverly worked corner ended with BRAD HOOPER applying a deft flick into the net for his fourth goal of the campaign.

A minute later it might have been three. Warre escaped his defender and from twenty yards unleashed a thunderous drive which Crawford appeared to touch before it crashed against the crossbar. The frame of the goal seemed to reverberate as long as the applause. Had it gone in it would have been remembered for some time.

However, the third goal was merely delayed. Five minutes before the interval Joe Shepherd produced a sumptuous cross-field pass towards TYGER-J HALL, his control was immaculate, his subsequent flick carried the ball elegantly beyond his marker and, advancing towards goal, he dispatched an unstoppable finish beyond Crawford. Three-nil and Marine had played some electrifying football.

The excellence had not been confined to the goalscorers. Partridge and Ferguson brought a reassuring calmness to central defence, rarely appearing hurried even when Manor Farm pressed. Ahead of them Hooper, Shepherd and Tawana Changa provided an industrious midfield platform, winning possession and then using it intelligently. On the wings Abubakar and Hall supplied invention and menace, while Warre’s effervescent centre-forward display continually unsettled the visiting defence.

There was a worrying moment just before half-time when Halliday and Beardwell collided, requiring lengthy treatment, happily both were able to continue. The resulting added time brought two further Marine opportunities, Hall and Warre both going close.

If the first half belonged emphatically to Marine, Manor Farm were determined that the second would not. Within two minutes of the restart former Marine striker JOE BEARDWELL was released clear of the defence. Faced with Halliday, he showed admirable composure and lashed his finish authoritatively into the net. Suddenly the visitors had belief restored.

For twenty minutes Marine found themselves under sustained pressure. On 58 minutes Beardwell again escaped for a one-against-one with Halliday. This time the goalkeeper prevailed, parrying the striker’s effort wide. Four minutes later Lucas Tomlinson cleverly released Croome, whose shot Halliday tipped over.

The storm, however, passed. Marine’s defence restored composure and the final twenty-five minutes produced comparatively few alarms. Partridge and Ferguson remained impressively calm under pressure, while the full-backs stood firm. Sam Turl deserves particular mention. Manor Farm repeatedly sought to exploit the left side with diagonal aerial balls, apparently fancying their chances in the resulting heading duels. If so, they had underestimated Turl, who competed splendidly in the air and more than held his own.

As the football became less fluent, the temperature rose. A confrontation between Shepherd and a Manor Farm player resulted in both being cautioned. The visiting player remained prone on the turf, apparently stricken, while spectators on that side of the ground offered some unsolicited observations on his thespian capabilities. Happily, any fears over his wellbeing were short-lived. His recovery had something of the Lazarus about it: within moments he was restored to full vigour and completed the match with no obvious diminution of energy.

By now referee Durie’s pocket had begun to resemble the toaster at a busy hotel’s breakfast buffet, yellow cards popping out with increasing regularity. When the final whistle eventually arrived the referee may have contemplated the sanctuary of his dressing room with some enthusiasm.

Manor Farm could take considerable encouragement from their second-half response. Crawford made several fine saves and Beardwell was lively and persistent against his former club.

For Marine, though, this was another performance which strengthened the impression that something promising is developing. Perhaps the most encouraging feature of Marine’s excellent start is that it has been very much a squad achievement. Competition for places is fierce and, as so often happens when a team is playing well, those left out of the starting eleven can justifiably consider themselves unfortunate.

Injuries and suspensions will inevitably come, and with them opportunities for others to make their mark. What is already unmistakable, however, is the togetherness within Bobby Wilkinson’s squad - a group in which those waiting for their chance appear every bit as committed as those currently wearing the shirt.

Five successive league victories represents an excellent sequence. However, one game at a time remains the sensible philosophy. On Saturday Weymouth come to the Imagine Cruising Stadium for an FA Cup tie carrying all the ingredients of a memorable afternoon. It is a tie which, although the underdogs, Marine can approach with confidence, momentum, and justifiable belief.

Come on Marine!

Attendance: 275

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		60’
5.	Jowan Partridge
6.	Tawana Changa		70’
7.	Sal Abubakar
8.	Brad Hooper	30’
9	Dan Warre	13’	83’
10.	Joe Shepherd		74’
11.	Tyger-J Hall	40’

Subs not used: 16. Olly Case, 17. Jamie Edge
The Editors Star Player: Sam Turl

BRISTOL MANOR FARM

Manager:	Will Justin
Line-up:	Colours: Red & White
No	Player	Goals	Card	No	Substitute	Goals	Card
1.	Owen Crawford [GK]
2.	Sam Watkins		26’
3.	Charlie White
4.	Henry Da-Long
5.	Aaron Parsons
6.	Jacob Hodgson (c)			16.	Calum Hewitt 53’
8.	Bailey Croome
9.	Joe Beardwell	47’
10.	Lucas Tomlinson			7.	Corey Evans 68’
12.	Ryan Guppy			11.	Ryan Cairney 70’		76’
18.	Aysa Corrick			14.	Kevin Contreras 66’		82’

Editors Star Player: Joe Beardwell
Subs not used: 15. Eli Collins