Metropolitan Police 1 Marine 0
Southern League Premier South | Tuesday 21st March 2023
Match Report from Aleck Everard
MARINE PIPPED IN TIGHT AFFAIR BUT PLAYOFF PUSH CONTINUES
Swindon Supermarine took on the Metropolitan Police in London on Tuesday evening as they tried to keep up their playoff push at the top of the Southern League table. Manager Lee Spalding was forced into a change between the sticks after Josh Gould was ruled out for a short period with a hip injury.
Gloucester City loanee Liam Armstrong returned having just recovered from an injury sustained three months ago playing for Marine. Meanwhile Will Tunnicliff returned after a month off allowing Ryan Campbell to move forward with George Cowmeadow dropping out of the squad.
Marine made a strong start to proceedings with Jamie Edge dragging a strike wide of goal early doors. But it was an even affair overall with little to split the two sides and defences doing enough to block any clear cut openings.
However, Marine had a strong spell midway through the second half. A great free kick from Joe Tumelty swung in but captain Mat Liddiard just couldn’t quite connect at the back stick on twenty-seven minutes. Then an excellent ball in from Tumelty on the half hour looked destined to be netted by Tyrone Duffus but a defender just got a foot in to deny him the goal.
Marine then sent a third excellent ball in, this time from Henry Spalding, which was just too strong for Ryan Campbell to connect. All three great chances within fractions of seeing a goal, it was turning into a frustrating evening for the visitors.
Following this excellent run of pressure the home side broke on the break and seized their chance. A ball into the channel split the defence and with Will Tunnicliff and keeper Liam Armstrong leaving the ball for each and both showing a little hesitancy in clearing the ball Armstrong brought down Conor Lee as the wing back got to the ball first and the referee pointed to the spot. Striker Martell Taylor-Crossdale stepped up and sent Armstrong the wrong way to give the hosts a lead which was slightly against the run of play on forty-two minutes.
The second period never reached the brief highs of the first period as the Metropolitan Police were determined not to let their lead slip to deny any Marine attacks as the went deeper and defended in numbers and not allowing the Marine players to create any note worthy opportunites.
On the break however the home side had some half chances with Josh Keeya hitting wide on fifty-seven minutes and the only other shot on target just after the hour came when Herson Rodrigues-Alves had an effort which was well saved by Marine keeper Armstrong as he got down to his left to push the ball behind for a corner.
Manager Spalding threw on George Dowling and Zac Guinan to try and find a way through with Joe Tumelty and Will Tunnicliff coming off, but despite the changes and some strong pressure on the home defence there was no way through for Marine. The closest chance being when James Harding beat his man to put the ball across only to see an offside flag raised.
A frustrating evening where a draw would have been a fairer result but certainly not the worst performance from Marine. They move on hoping to learn from the evening with a key clash at Hanwell Town on Saturday with a three points needed to keep up the push at the top. As Alex Ferguson said “Squeaky Bum Time” is on the way.
Line Ups
Met Police 
Manager: Gavin Macpherson
Colours: All Blue
Line-up: 1. Liam Beech 2. Conor Lee 3. Alex Fisher (c) 4. Louis Birch 5. Bernie Tanner 6. Harry Taylor 7. Ollie Knight 8. Joshua Keeya **9.**Martell Taylor-Crossdale (15. Rudy Appiah-Allen 72’) 10. Herson Rodrigues-Alves (17. Jasper Mather 75’) 11. Liam Ferdinand
Subs not used: 12. Fabio Sole, 14. Luke Robertson, 16. Kyron Richards
Goalscorer: 
Martell Taylor-Crossdale 44’pen
Editors Star Man: Josh Keeya
Cards:
None 
None 
None 
Swindon Supermarine
Manager: Lee Spalding
Colours: All Red
Line-up: 1. Liam Armstrong 2. Sam Turl 3. Will Tunnicliff (12. Zac Guinan 72’) 4. Jamie Edge (14. Brad Hooper 83’) 5. Tyrone Duffus 6. Mat Liddiard (c) 7. Henry Spalding 8. Joe Tumelty (15. George Dowling 67’) 9. Zack Kotwica 10. James Harding 11. Ryan Campbell
Subs not used: 16. Tom Sharpe, 17. Malik Sesay
Goalscorers: None
Editors Star Man: Mat Liddiard (c)
Cards:
Liam Armstrong 42’, George Dowling 75’
None
None
Supermarine TV
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Courtesy of Mike Wray
Post Match Team Sheet
Match Officials
Referee: George Warren
Assistant Referees: Phil Jones, Daniel Trout
