Salisbury 4 Marine 5

Match Report from Pete Crockett

MARINE WIN WILTS PREMIER SHIELD

Marine entered this match with the odds against them. Just relegated themselves, facing a Salisbury team who in their squad named fifteen players with recent National League experience. Playing what was to all intent and purpose an away fixture at Salisbury’s home ground and facing an opponent who having not won this trophy for over a decade were probably hungry to do so.

By the final whistle Marine had won a nine-goal thriller. The experienced players involved put in strong performances and, most impressively, the team named a squad with a host of young players who rose magnificently to the occasion. Marine have now won three of the last five Wiltshire Premier Shield finals and were losing finalists in a fourth.

Of course, this victory does not undo the disappointment of the previous Saturday’s relegation. However, it was lovely to see smiles return amongst players, management, directors, and supporters. There is a saying that “setbacks can be the set up for the come back” – it felt like we might just have seen the inaugural steps in that come back journey.

The opening five minutes of the match saw Salisbury apply pressure and Marine had to work hard to keep their shape. Just as Marine supporters started to feel the first salvos had been survived Salisbury opened the scoring in the ninth minute. Ronan Silva slipped a well measured pass into the path of Josh Hedges whose first touch enabled him to cut inside the defender. His bottom corner finish from ten yards was composed.

In the 18th minute the ball broke to the hosts Lewis Brown some 25-yards from goal - his effort was firmly struck but cleared the crossbar. Marine kept their discipline and focused upon staying in the game. They defended resolutely and worked hard at pressing and scrapping in midfield.

The resolve was illustrated when a Salisbury player confronted Dayo Sonoiki. The Marine youngster was not fazed and calmly stood his ground. He was not going to be intimidated, and he was not going to be wound up. He was assertive but did not get drawn into misconduct – an old footballing head on young shoulders. I hasten to add this is not a criticism of the Salisbury player - these contretemps happen in the heat of a match but how players react to them matters.

In the 32nd minute the Swindonians equalised when some good build up play saw Liban Ibrahim’s through ball well controlled by Gabe Reivers who adeptly slotted the ball into the bottom left-hand corner of the Salisbury goal.

Within seven minutes things got even better from a Marine viewpoint when Olly Mehew tucked home an opportunity from close range following an excellent low cross from Dave Sims Burgess.

Frustratingly, from a Marine perspective, the lead did not last long. Liban Ibrahim was adjudged to have committed a foul twenty-five yards from goal. Owen Dore’s free kick was on-target and despite Marine keeper Dan Brabham getting two hands to the shot the power of the strike saw the ball nestle in the back of the net.

That late equaliser in the first half, along with supporter’s player of the year Sam Turl having to be substituted in the interval, could have seen Marine heads drop. They did not – they instead went toe-to-toe with their opponents in a second half that saw a further five goals.

The half took the pattern of Salisbury trying to take the game to their opponent and Marine looking decidedly threatening on the counter. In the 52nd minute one of those slick Marine counteroffensives saw Dayo Sonoiki knock the ball wide to Olly Mehew whose driven cross was finished by Dave Sims-Burgess at the back post to give Marine a 3-2 lead.

As with the second Marine goal the lead did not last long. A cross from the right eluded the dangling legs of the north Wiltshire club’s defenders and the ball fell to Salisbury’s Callum Watts in a central position just outside the six-yard box. The Salisbury midfielder steered the ball into the back of the net and it was 3-3.

Three goals apiece and still the sides were inseparable. That changed when in the 58th minute Marine’s Dave Sims-Burgess latched onto a loose ball. His firmly struck effort from twenty-yards took a deflection that wrong footed Rhys Byrne in the Salisbury goal. As the ball nestled in the far bottom corner cue Marine celebrations as they took the lead for a third time.

Salisbury were though in no mood to surrender. In the 67th minute Marine keeper Dan Brabham produced an excellent save to deny Salisbury’s Finn Tonks. The whites were now pushing Marine hard and in the 71st minute made the score 4-4 when Callum Watts adroitly finished a Finn Tonks cross.

Two minutes later Marine took the lead for a remarkable fourth time. Some excellent build up play saw Ryan Campbellsurge into the penalty area and fire his effort expertly into the top corner of the net.

For the final twenty plus minutes Marine defended resolutely. Crucial headers were won, bodies strained every sinew to make blocks, tired legs gave their all to track and press, and the Salisbury support was fervent. Marine dug deep and in the final minutes and keeper Dan Brabham made an excellent reflex save pushing a close-range effort over the crossbar.

With the final whistle close Marine youngster Cheldon Valere broke clear down the left. Would impetuosity see him go for goal and waste the chance to eat up some vital seconds in the corner? The youngster showed great wisdom and opted to eat up vital time. At the final whistle the smiles returned to Marine faces – it had been a tumultuous few days but there was finally a reason to be cheerful.

The Salisbury manager Brian Dutton in his post match interview eluded that his team were a little jaded after securing their survival in the National League a few days earlier. It was a fair point, and he understandably pointed out that if faced with the choice between staying up and winning the Wiltshire Premier Shield he preferred the former.

Credit should be given to referee Daniel Lamport and his team. As the game reached its finale he was put under pressure by a voluble crowd, but he kept his nerve and managed the game well.

For Swindon Supermarine the last four days had been difficult. Relegation and the parting of the ways with head coach Stuart Fleetwood were far from the ideal preparation for this match. However, out of adversity came the first indications of a positive future.

In terms of plaudits the whole Marine team deserve praise, but I want to single out a few names to mention in dispatches. Dave Sims Burgess scored a brace and gave the Salisbury defenders a torrid old time. Meanwhile Liban Ibrahim added some much-needed zest, zeal, and tenacity to the midfield.

However, my greatest praise goes to the young players who acquitted themselves so well. Defender Josh Blyth found himself having to switch from a centre back to full back role and dealt with that challenge impressively.

Winger Cheldon Valere grew into the game and in the second half his pace really troubled the Salisbury defenders. Dayo Sonoiki was a colossus in midfield – so much potential. Meanwhile Gabe Reivers deservedly won the player of the match award with his excellent work rate, composed passing, and brace of goals.

Credit should also be given to interim manager Dan Gillespie and coach Matt Tunley who set up the team superbly and sent them onto the field of play with a liberated mindset.

The biggest positive of this Wiltshire Premier Shield campaign has been the emergence of the young players into first team line ups. As well as the players cited previously other youngsters played a part in the shield winning campaign including Dylan Griffin, Josh McKinlay, Josh Briggs, and Liam Clark. What a credit to those involved in coaching them at youth level and additionally to former head coach Stuart Fleetwood for blooding them into the first team setting.

I think I may have glimpsed the club’s future and, if it is anything like this victory, I think we could well be embarking on an enjoyable journey.

Editors Salisbury Star Man: Callum Watts
Editors Marine Star Man: Gabe Reivers
Attendance: 601

Line Ups

Salisbury
Manager: Brian Dutton
Colour: All White
Line-up: 1. Rhys Burn 15. Karlos Gregory (3. Jordan Ragguette 66’) 4. Tom Leggett 6. Josh Sommerton (c) 7. Jaden Perez (20. Sido Jombati 46’) 16. Ronan Silva (8. Callum Watts) 5. Sam German 14. Josh Hedges (27. Ferhat Canlier 90+6’) 2. Finn Tonks 18. Lewis Brown 23. Owen Door
Goalscorer: Josh Hedges 10’ , Owen Dore 42’ , Callum Watts 53’, 72’ ,
Subs Not Used: 21. Theo Lewis, 22. Henry Anoma, 12. Jeremiah Prempeh
Cards:
Karlos Gregory 40’, Jordan Ragguette 89’
None
None

Swindon Supermarine
Manager: Dan Gillespie
Colours: All Yellow
Line-up: 1. Dan Brabham 2. Sam Turl (12. Jamie Edge 46’) 3. Ryan Campbell (c) 4. Dayo Sonoiki (16. Liam Clark 90’ 5. Jake Lee 6. Josh Blyth 7. Olly Mehew 8. Liban Ibrahim (15. Anton Dworzak 60’) 9. Dave Sims-Burgess (14. Harry Williams 66’) 10. Gabe Reivers 11. Cheldon Valere
Subs not used: 17. Josh McKinlay
Goalscorers: Gabe Reivers 23’ , Olly Mehew 31’ , Dave Sims-Burgess 51’, 59’ , Ryan Campbell 73’
Cards:
None
None
None

Match Gallery

Click here to view match photo’s
Courtesy of Alex White Photography

Match Officials

Referee: Dan Lamport
Assistant Referees: Graham Pearce, Jordan Cuthbertson
Fourth Official: Brian White