Merthyr Town 2 Marine 1

Match Report from Aleck Everard

MARINE SLIP UP IN WALES

Swindon Supermarine got their 2023 underway with a trip to South Wales to take on Merthyr Town on the 3G at The Met Coaches Community Stadium. Manager Lee Spalding opted for two changes to the side that beat North Leigh on Boxing Day by bringing in Zack Kotwica on the wing for Ryan Campbell and Leon Morrison in at the back after Tom Sharpe, who had come off with a knock at half time in that last game against North Leigh.

Zack Kotwica replaced Ryan Campbell on the wing
Photo © Becky Handley Photography

Marine made a solid start to the game, passing the ball well and Conor McDonagh looking lively up top. Zack Kotwica had the first effort at Will Fuller in the home goal on eight minutes and it wasn’t until seventeen minutes on the clock before the Martyrs registered a first effort at goal when Liam Armstrong pulled off a top save to palm over a rasping shot from Tom Handley.

Three defenders block out Conor McDonagh
Photo © Becky Handley Photography

George Dowling then had a free kick blocked as we increased the pressure but just when it looked like a breakthrough was imminent for Marine it came in fortuitous fashion for the hosts. A long ball forward was mis-controlled by Liam Armstrong in the Marine goal. He then slipped in his attempt to get to the ball before the approaching CURTIS JEMMETT-HUTSON jumped into the challenge to win possession of the ball from Armstrong before tapping the ball home into an empty net on 24 minutes. The big question was did the attacker catch the keeper before he got the ball? Armstrong was hurt in the challenge and limped so badly throughout the rest of the game with his ankle strapped and Marine with no substitute keeper on the bench. An X-ray later revealed that Armstrong had suffered a broken foot in the challenge.

Liam Armstrong is injured in the lead up to Merthyr’s first goal
Photo © Becky Handley Photography

However, the goal was given and Marine had to dust themselves down and go again. Marine recovered well to continue dominating possession if not quite able to make any headway up top until the 42nd minute when Leon Morrison’s header across the goal fell to Conor McDonagh but his volley was well saved by Fuller at the near post.

Merthyr’s Frazer Thomas gets to the goal line and pulls the ball back only for Mat Liddiard to score an own goal
Photo © Becky Handley Photography

With only two minutes to go to half time Merthyr had one last attack down the right wing and when Frazer Thomas got past Leon Morrison and ran towards the goal line he pulled the ball back which Marine skipper MAT LIDDIARD could only help ‘shin’ the ball past the stranded keeper Armstrong for an own goal and a 2-0 lead for Merthyr at the break. A hammer blow with the timing meaning Marine had a mountain to climb in the second half.

George Dowling came off at half time with a tight hamstring
Photo © Becky Handley Photography

Manager Lee Spalding who make a change at the break with coming on Jamie Edge for George Dowling who felt a tightness of his hamstring and just seven minutes into the second period winger Ryan Campbell replaced Henry Spalding. Morrison was harshly booked on the hour for a quite innocuous challenge but with the hosts content to sit back and hold on to what they had you had the feeling there was still something in the game for Marine.

Harry Williams looks to chase down the ball
Photo © Becky Handley Photography

The management team could see this too and with twenty-eight minutes to go they put on James Harding up top in place of Morrison, going all out with just three at the back. McDonagh came so close almost immediately but his deflected effort scraped the paintwork on the post as it went wide for the first of a session of corners. Merthyr were looking dangerous on the break as Marine pushed forward and Mat Liddiard had to make a couple of tackles, one was a great double block on 73 minutes as he almost single handed marshalled the back line with the full backs, Sam Turl and Will Tunnicliff pushing up the flanks.

Merthyr’s Frazer Thomas looks to take on the Marine defenders
Photo © Becky Handley Photography

Marine continued to batter at the door until eventually with five minutes left to go Jamie Edge reached for the ball in the box ahead of his marker was rightfully awarded a spot kick as he was sent tumbling from a tackle from behind. HARRY WILLIAMS stepped up to make no mistake in sending the keeper the wrong way for his 26th of the campaign and it was game on but could Marine grab that leveller?

Harry Williams wins a header shortly before scoring his penalty
Photo © Becky Handley Photography

With a minute left Zack Kotwica put in an inviting cross for Williams but his header just failed to hit the target and then came the last two chance deep into injury time. Firstly, Williams made some space for himself on the edge of the box but his shot just went a mere fraction over the top and then James Harding swung with his left foot and with the keeper beaten his shot flew past the post and his the net post.

Brad Hooper was the fans player of the match
Photo © Becky Handley Photography

So near yet so far. A good second half comeback but Marine had been out of luck most of the day. I don’t know if they have lucky four leaf clovers in Wales but if they do then the manager certainly picked one out that morning! Despite feeling it was a chance missed there were lots of positives in the play and we look forward to our big Wiltshire derby on Saturday at home to Salisbury.

Fans player of the match went to the hard working Brad Hooper.

Attendance: 727

Line Ups

Merthyr Town
Manager: Paul Michael
Colours: All Orange
Line-up: 13. Will Fuller 2. Adam Davies (c) 3. Thomas Handley 16. Nick Rhodes 5. Liam Angel 6. Jack Evans 7. Frazer Thomas 8. Alex John 10. Ricardo Rees 14. Curtis Jemmett-Hutson (9. Craig Norman 89’) 15. Matt Harris
Subs not used: 1. James Cogman [GK], 17. Noah Smerdon, 18. Ismail Yakubu
Goalscorer: Curtis Jemmett-Hutson 25’, Mat Liddiard o.g. 45+1’
Editors Star Man: Curtis Jemmett-Hutson
Cards:
Matt Harris 42’
None
None

Swindon Supermarine
Manager: Lee Spalding
Colours: Blue & White Hoops / Blue / Blue
Line-up: 1. Liam Armstrong 2. Sam Turl 3. Will Tunnicliff 4. Brad Hooper 5. Leon Morrison (12. James Harding 62’) 6. Mat Liddiard (c) 7. Henry Spalding (14. Ryan Campbell 55’) 8. George Dowling (16. Jamie Edge 46’) 9. Harry Williams 10. Conor McDonagh 11. Zack Kotwica
Subs not used: 15. Tom Sharpe, 17. Joe Tumelty
Goalscorers: Harry Williams 85’pen
Editors Star Man: Mat Liddiard (c)
Cards:
Leon Morrison 58’, Jamie Edge 76’
None
None

Supermarine TV

Highlights
Courtesy of Mike Wray

Post Match Team Sheet

Team Sheet

Match Officials

Referee: Sam Fudge
Assistant Referees: Paul Collier, Daniel Bugg