Marine v Tiverton Town Preview
Thursday 29th February 2024
Marine v Tiverton Town Preview
From Nick Taylor
Supermarine play host to fellow strugglers Tiverton Town this Saturday with both teams desperate for the three points to move clear of the relegation zone.
With Stuart Fleetwood’s side returned to winning ways with an excellent away victory at Hanwell Town last weekend, ‘Tivvy’ have endured a frustrating time of late, with three fixtures in a row being postponed due to waterlogged pitches and currently find themselves third bottom in the standings on 30 points from 29 matches. They last played on Saturday 17th February, a 2-0 away defeat to Walton & Hersham.
Now having three games in hand, though four points behind Marine, Tiverton Manager, Leigh Robinson, will be crossing his fingers that the fixture is played so that his side can finally get some minutes ‘under their belts’ in their pursuit to get back to winning ways
The two sides have already met twice this season, in the corresponding league fixture at The Ian Moorcroft Stadium back on Saturday 30th September where the points were shared in a 1-1 draw, Levi Irving scoring first half before River Allen equalised after the interval for the Devon side.
Only a week later, the two squads returned to The Webbswood Stadium in the FA Trophy, Marine running out comfortable winners by 3-1, with Levi Irving, Ioan Richards and Brad Gray netting.
Top scorer, Tom Bath and loanee striker’s, Joe Parker and Alex Fletcher carry the visitors main goal threat, with both midfielder River Allen and ex-Truro winger Niall Thompson, no doubt looking forward to playing Marine for a third time, having had previous successes scoring against Marine. Tiverton supporters will be buoyed by the return of their former striker, Alex Fletcher, who re-joined the club on loan this week from Weston-super- Mare.
“We are looking to play our way, whilst taking the emotion out of it and understand it’s a huge game, but the season isn’t safe or lost on this one game,” said Marine Head Coach Stuart Fleetwood, who, for the second week in a row has a full squad to select from, apart from long-term injured Tom Sharpe.
