Marine 3 Bristol Manor Farm 1

Match Report from Pete Crockett

HAT-TRICK HERO GBLA FIRES MARINE TO COMMANDING VICTORY

There are fast starts, and then there are Sid Gbla starts. Barely thirty-two seconds had elapsed when Swindon Supermarine’s irrepressible front man opened the scoring - a goal of such audacious timing and athleticism that one almost expected a steward’s inquiry into how it could possibly have happened so soon after kick-off.

It came from a Zac Rugman long throw. The ball bounced once, and SID GBLA (photo above)- all balance and boldness - pivoted before unleashing a scissor volley that nestled sweetly in the net. A finish for the purists delivered with the flourish of a showman.

Marine, brimming with early zeal, pressed with assurance and passed with poise. It was little surprise when, on ten minutes, they doubled their advantage. Zack Rugman again provided the service - a deft clip down the right flank sending SID GBLA sprinting clear. He entered the box with defenders trailing in his slipstream before squeezing a fierce drive between goalkeeper and near post with surgical precision.

There was almost a third soon after, the lively Sid Gbla again at the heart of it, his header from a Sal Abubakar cross glancing off the bar. Moments later, Sal Abubakar’s own shot was bravely charged down as Marine continued to turn the screw.

But football’s rhythms are fickle things. On 38 minutes, Bristol Manor Farm - to their credit - struck back. Malcolm Nicholls, industrious in midfield, found Aysa Corrick in an inside-right channel; Corrick’s slide-rule pass released RYAN CAIRNEY, who finished crisply across Luke Purnell and inside the far post.

The visitors, revived by that moment, pressed forward with new intent. Yet before the half was out, Marine struck again - and predictably it was that man Gbla. On 42 minutes, Frankie Monk’s smart pull-back found him loitering with intent, and SID GBLA calmly rolled home his hat-trick goal. Coolness personified; his third in 42 minutes, and a first-half to make even the most hardened stat keeper smile.

Half-time brought murmurs of satisfaction among the Marine faithful — pints raised, scarves waved, and the consensus clear: this was the finest forty-five minutes seen at the Webbswood this season.

The second half began much as the first had ended - Marine pressing and probing. Zac Rugman saw a fierce drive tipped over by Owen Crawford, who was soon in action again to deny another long-range effort from Frankie Monk.

At the other end, Manor Farm, now reorganised and more assertive, began to see more of the ball. Brandon Bak’s low free-kick squirmed under the wall, but Purnell was equal to it, getting down sharply to parry the ball away from the danger area.

The visitor’s Mal Nicholls again went close on 63 minutes, his effort deflected over, while Aysa Corrick continued to cause flickers of anxiety in the home defence. Yet Marine, disciplined and compact, absorbed the pressure with quiet authority. At the other end, Frankie Monk’s effort drew another fine save, and Sal Abubakar’s overhead kick brought appreciative applause if not reward.

By the final whistle, an injury-hit Marine had earned every ounce of their three points. It was a performance brimming with graft and guile, a collective eight-out-of-ten, or more, showing across the park.

Of course, Sid Gbla took the headlines with his first-half hat-trick — a display of movement, instinct, and finishing that was impressive. Zac Rugman orchestrated affairs in midfield, the beating heart and ticking metronome of Marine’s tempo. Behind them, Ollie Case and Josh Blyth were the twin centre back pillars upon which the victory rested.

For Manor Farm, it had been a day of frustration after a slow start, though Owen Crawford’s alert goalkeeping and Mal Nicholls’ midfield industry deserve mention, as does Aysa Corrick’s enterprising forward play. Referee Michael Smith and his assistants also merit praise for allowing the contest to flow whilst keeping effective control.

Marine’s manager Bobby Wilkinson could reflect with justifiable satisfaction on a team that combined artistry with effort, and precision with passion. Three points, three goals, and one man — Sid Gbla — whose name will linger long in Marine folklore.

Come on Marine!

Attendance: 430

Manager:	Bobby Wilkinson
Line-up:	Colours: Blue & White Hoops
No	Player	Goals	Card	No	Substitute	Goals	Card
1	Luke Purnell [GK]
2	Sam Turl (c)
3	Owen Foye			16	Dayo Sonoiki 68’		75’
4	Olly Case
5	Josh Blythe			17	Rocco Sughayer 90+9’
6	Zach Rugman
7	Sal Abubakar
8	Tawana Changa
9	Frankie Monk			14	Joe Selman 90+2’
10	Sid Gbla	1’ 7’ 42’		15	Max Hemmings 74’
11	George Alston			12	Joe Beardwell 68’

Editors Star Man: Sid Gbla
Subs not used: None

Manager:	Will Justin
Line-up:	Colours: Red & Black
No	Player	Goals	Card	No	Substitute	Goals	Card
1.	Owen Crawford [GK]
2.	Elliot Nicholson (c)
3.	Tom Symons			12.	Leighton Tuodolo 46’
4.	Nathan Goodwin-Worrell			5.	Jake Wilson 56’
6.	Abdoulie Tunkara		90+1’
7.	Brad Selwood		24’	14.	Mohammed Djalo 65’
8.	Malcolm Nichols		50’
9.	Brandon Bak
10.	Aysa Corrick
11.	Ryan Cairney	39’
19.	Ryan Crouch

Editors Star Man: Owen Crawford
Subs not used: None