Marine 3 Winchester City 0

Match Report from Pete Crockett

The Great Escape is secured

With only four points from their first fifteen matches securing survival on the last game of the season very much represents a “great escape“ for Marine. Needing to win to avoid relegation the home team went into this match with the pressure very much upon them.

In the early exchanges Marine started a little tentatively. In the third minute the visitor’s Jamie Barron went through on a one-on-one but Fiachra Pagel made an excellent save. Then with ten minutes gone a Trevor Caborn cross found Sam Ashton but his header was comfortably saved by the Marine keeper.

With a quarter of an hour elapsed it was the visitors who threatened again. An Ik Hill curling effort forced an excellent full stretch save from Fiachra Pagel in the Marine goal. Slowly Marine started to gain a foothold in the game. They had dug deep under early pressure from the Citizens and now were starting to become more competitive in the midfield skirmishes.

In the 36th minute Marine’s Ryan Campbell played a one-two with Harry Williams, whose delectable back heel seemed to surprise the visitor’s defenders. The overlapping full back advanced into the penalty area and drove a ferocious shot past Luke Cairney in the visitor’s goal.

A lot of credit for the goal also goes to referee Tom Staten who made effective use of the advantage clause in the build up to this goal – this was an excellent piece of officiating. The remainder of the first half was played out with few meaningful efforts on target but Marine were now going very much “toe-to-toe” with their opponents.

Marine doubled their lead in the 55th minute. Harry Williams seized on a defensive error and advanced towards goal. As the angle became more acute he looked up and zipped in a low inch perfect back post cross that was assuredly diverted into the back of the net by Michael Fernandes.

In the 58th minute a Trevor Caborn cross found the visitor’s Sam Ashton in the six-yard box but his effort went wide of the post. Minutes later Marine supporters had their hearts in their mouths when a clumsy tackle by Marine’s George Dowling on the Citizens Trevor Caborn saw tensions rise. The referee deemed the challenge a yellow card offence to the relief of those with a Marine allegiance.

On 65 minutes a perfectly timed run saw Marine’s George Dowling break clear of the opposing defence. Entering the penalty area he chipped his effort over the diving Luke Cairney but his dinked shot bounced agonisingly just wide of the far post.

On 76 minutes the visitor’s had a chance to pull a goal back but Patrick Nolan fired his effort over the bar after keeper Fiachra Pagel dropped the ball as he came over the top of Mat Liddiard.

Three minutes later it was Marine’s Mat Liddiard who made a vital intervention heading off his own line. This was indicative of Marine’s approach to the game with players working hard defensively.

Marine’s win was sealed on 88 minutes when Michael Fernandes, having skilfully beaten his man, saw his cross shot deflected by Winchester’s Joshua McCormick into his own goal. In fairness the defender had to try and intercept with Marine attackers advancing to tap the cross home at the back post.

At the final whistle the celebrations of the home support ended what was pretty much a perfect day for Marine.

A former Prime Minister, Harold Wilson, once famously said “a week is a long time in politics.” A week is most certainly a long time in football. Last week’s match report was highly critical of what was an inept Marine performance at Sholing.

This match was very much the opposite. The players dug deep in the first twenty minutes and then, slowly, earned the right to become the more dominant team.

Once Marine scored the opening goal players cast off the shackles of tension and started to pass with an increased assuredness. This was a whole team victory.

Fiachra Pagel’s two saves in the early stages were crucial; the back four were admirably resolute throughout; the midfield, after a difficult first fifteen minutes, started to hold their own; and Marine’s two strikers, once they got some service, started to menace the visiting defence. Harry Williams with two assists made a particularly telling contribution.

Some Sunday Newspapers give players marks out of ten on their performance. Against Sholing it would have been hard to give any Marine player a mark above six. The difference in the quality of the performance might best be reflected by the sense that it would be difficult in this match to give any Marine player less than eight. The collective turnaround really was that big.

Looking at other positives the following four thoughts come to mind. One, this was Marine’s third clean sheet in their last five league matches. This exceeds the two they secured in the thirty-seven matches prior to this.

Two, looking at the last 30 match form table Marine have accrued 46 points at over 1.5 points per game. This puts them in 8th place for form in the last 30 matches and, sustained over a season, would be play-off challenging form.

Three, this was a victory secured under immense pressure. The players had to collectively step up to the plate and they did that laudably. They most certainly earned their post match celebrations.

Fourthly, credit to the management team. They took on a tough challenge and saw the club through to safety. That is an impressive achievement for them and their playing staff.

The 2023/24 season has, for Marine, come to an end. There will be plenty of time to reflect upon the lessons learned and the successes to build upon. The club, in adversity dug deep, and it is so often from the spirit shown in tough times that future success can evolve.

Editors Marine Star Man: Zack Kotwica
Editors Winchester Star Man: Trevor Caborn
Attendance: 432

COME ON MARINE

Line Ups

SWINDON SUPERMARINE
Head Coach: Stuart Fleetwood
Colours: Blue & White Hoops
Line-up: 1. Fiachra Pagel 2. Sam Turl 3. Ryan Campbell 4. Mat Liddiard 5. Matt Bower 6. Jake Andrews (c) (12. Jamie Edge 80’) 7. Zack Kotwica 8. George Dowling (17. Liban Ibrahim 70’) 9. Dave Sims-Burgess 10. Michael Fernandes 11. Harry Williams (14. Brad Gray 77’)
Subs not used: 15. Ioan Richards , 16. Henry Spalding
Goalscorers: Ryan Campbell 36’, Michael Fernandes 31’, Josh McCormack 88’og
Cards:
George Dowling 62’, Liban Ibrahim 90+2’, Dave Sims-Burgess 90+4’, Sam Turl 90+6’
None
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Winchester City
Manager: Craig Davis
Colours: Red & Black
Line-up: 1. Luke Cairney 2. Josh McCormick 3. Dan King (16. Tom Wright 57’) 4. Ollie Griggs 5. Jordan Rose 6. Pat Nolan 7. Trevor Caborn 8. Jamie Barron (c) 9. Sam Ashton (15. Dan Jones 70’) 10. Ollie Balmer 11. Ik Hill (14. Max Smith 63’)
Subs not used: 12. Robert Jamison, 17. Henry Brooks
Goalscorer: :None
Cards:
Pat Nolan 51’, Jamie Barron 62’, Ollie Griggs 84’
None
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Match Gallery

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Courtesy of Alex White Photography

Match Gallery

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Courtesy of Rob Mashford Photography

Team Sheet

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Match Officials

Referee: Tom Staten
Assistant Referees: James McNee, James Curran