Marine 3 Falmouth Town 0

Match Report from Pete Crockett

MARINES MASTER THE MUDDY MIRE

On a slate-grey afternoon when rain weighed upon both spirit and playing surface Supermarine played with impressive conviction.

The pitch was a dragnet of mud, the light thin and joyless, yet from such unpromising elements the home side fashioned their most fluent display of the season.

Both teams arrived encumbered by doubt. Supermarine, industrious on the road of late, had not tasted victory since early November. Falmouth Town, by contrast, had endured three competitive-free weeks, a hiatus that can dull edge as easily as it preserves legs.

It was the visitors who began with the sharper intent. In the second minute Jack Webber steered an early effort narrowly wide of Luke Purnell’s right-hand post, and soon after Luke Barner struck a skidding drive wide of the mark.

Supermarine’s first incision arrived on eleven minutes, Piotr Petrynski slipping a measured pass into Brad Hooper, whose finish lacked the power to trouble the goalkeeper. Yet the moment proved a harbinger.

A minute later the game tilted decisively when Sid Gbla, quick to a loose ball at the corner of the penalty area, was felled by the Falmouth diving keeper Coxhead. Gbla rose, composed himself, and sent the penalty beyond the keeper’s outstretched hand.

The goal liberated Supermarine. Their play acquired tempo and assurance. On twenty-four minutes Conor McDonagh released the overlapping Sam Turl, whose cut-back found Gbla again, only for Coxhead to make a fine low save.

On twenty-seven minutes came a second goal of some elegance: Hooper threaded a precise pass to McDonagh, who ghosted beyond the defence and played in Piotr Petrynski to rifle home his first goal for the club.

Falmouth were not without response. Barner’s wing craft delivered a sumptuous cross that Rubin Wilson met first-time, his header grazing the wrong side of the post. Oscar Massey then slipped clear, only for Purnell to deny him with an excellent save.

Supermarine pressed on regardless. Hooper saw an improvised over-the-shoulder effort hacked from the line, before, in first-half injury time, relentless pressure told. Following a half cleared corner the ball was worked wide to Sam Turl, who drove a low hard shot beyond Coxhead to complete a commanding half.

Falmouth emerged for the second half with renewed resolve. Falmouth’s Wilson drove powerfully at goal, Purnell saving well with his legs. The contest opened into an end-to-end exchange: the visiting keeper Coxhead repelled McDonagh, then Dayo Sonoiki embarked on a mazy run along the by-line, nutmegging an opponent, only for Gbla to miscue the finish.

Around the hour Barner fired over after neat interplay with Wilson during Falmouth’s best spell of possession. As the minutes ebbed the pitch exacted its tax on weary legs. Purnell tipped over a menacing header from a corner; at the other end Coxhead flung himself full-length to parry a thunderous twenty-five-yard strike from Marine’s Tawana Changa.

Falmouth were unfortunate to encounter Supermarine at their first-half zenith, though the visitors showed their own quality after the break, passing through the zones with purpose. Barner, Wilson, and Massey all impressed for the visitors. Credit too to referee Rob Herrett and his assistants whose calm authority and measured decision making were impressive.

For Supermarine the positives were plentiful. Olly Case and Jamie Edge were resolute in the centre of defence; Turl and Petrynski fulfilled their full-back duties with distinction and goals; Hooper and McDonagh linked with impressive understanding; Changa, Max Hemmings and Sonoiki laboured tirelessly; Gbla returned to scoring form; and Purnell’s assurance was underlined by his keeping a clean sheet. When Marine legs tired the bench supplied momentum and quality.

Afterwards the Marine manager spoke with satisfaction praising the quality of the football, the three goals, and the clean sheet. He also commended both sets of supporters for their fortitude in foul weather.

This was a Marine victory that built upon encouraging away draws at Portishead Town and Winchester City. It was a result that offered even the most curmudgeonly a reason to be cheerful.

Come on Marine!

Attendance: 187

Manager:	Bobby Wilkinson
Line-up:	Colours: Blue & White Hoops
No	Player	Goals	Card	No	Substitute	Goals	Card
1	Luke Purnell [GK]
2	Sam Turl	45’
3	Piotr Petrynski	27’
4	Olly Case		31’
5	Jamie Edge			17	Josh Blythe 93’
6	Tawana Changa		48’	12	Cheldon Valere 92’
7	Dayo Sonoiki
8	Max Hemmings (c)
9	Conor McDonagh			16	Sal Abubakar 76’
10	Sid Gbla	13’p		14	Joe Owiti 68’
11	Brad Hooper			15	Zach Rugman 72’

Editors Star Men: Piotr Petrynski & Dayo Sonoiki
Subs not used: None

Manager:	Andy Westgarth
Line-up:	Colours: Amber & Black
No	Player	Goals	Card	No	Substitute	Goals	Card
1.	Morgan Coxhead [GK]		13’
2.	Ned Symons			12.	Aaron Ibbetson 46’
3.	Brad Leivers
14.	Freddie Start-Walter			4.	Harrison Jewell 65’
5.	Tom Annear (c)
6.	Jack Webber
7.	Luke Barner
8.	Cameron Hutchinson			15.	Martyn Duff 65’
9.	Rubin Wilson
10.	Oscar Massey			17.	Luke Brabyn 71’
11.	Oliver Evans

Editors Star Man: Luke Barner
Subs not used: 16. Westy