Sholing 3 Marine 5

Match Report from Pete Crockett

MARINE SINK THE BOATMEN

Two sides whose current form was decidedly variable produced an eight-goal thriller at the Mortgage Decisions Stadium. It was a match played on a deceptively tricky surface. A thaw had seen the top surface have a little give whilst a deep overnight frost meant there was a firmness just below the surface.

Supermarine opened the scoring in the fourth minute when a Michael Fernandes free kick was parried back into the six-yard box by the home team keeper. The ball was nudged back towards goal by Liban Ibrahim and Dave Sims-Burgess netted the loose ball from close range. Whilst not one of those goals that will aesthetically live long in the memory it was a good goal poachers finish.

On six minutes Marine had their first scare when an effort struck the hand of Jake Lee. It was hit from close range at the defender whose hand was close to his body thus the referee’s decision to wave play on seemed laudably logical.

On ten minutes, Marine doubled their lead. A Liban Ibrahim pass sent Michael Fernandes clear down the left flank. Cutting inside he chipped shot towards the host’s goal which, to use a cricketing term, took a thick edge off a defensive leg to wrong foot the keeper and nestle in the back of the net.

The home team were for the next fifteen minutes decidedly on the ropes. A Marine header from a corner went just wide of the post. Minutes later a game of head tennis from another set piece saw a Liam Angel header a yard from the goal line agonisingly looped over the crossbar.

This incident was closely followed by Dave Sims-Burgess appearing to be the stronger in a tussle with defenders on the edge of the box. As he looked to have created himself a space to break clear into the area an acme Thunderer blasted and the referee penalised him for pushing. Suffice it to say those of a Marine disposition felt the official’s judgement to be a harsh one.

It is an oft used footballing cliché that a two-goal lead is a dangerous one. It certainly had that feeling for Marine supporters as chances to extend their lead to three goals slipped by and Sholing started to look a greater attacking threat.

This proved to be the case in a minute of football that saw the game’s momentum switch. On 24 minutes visiting striker Dave Sims-Burgess broke clear of a square defence. Entering the penalty area, he drew his foot back to slide the ball past the advancing keeper.

However, Sholing defender Harry Taylor made an exemplary sliding tackle from a forty-five-degree angle to poke the ball clear. Immediately the hosts broke with pace down the left and a Charlie Gunson cross from the left flank was tapped home at the back post by Romoluwa Akinola. In a crucial minute the hosts had secured themselves a lifeline.

It was Marine’s turn to find themselves under pressure. Just before the half hour mark Sholing’s Brad Targett was set clear by a well weighted through ball from Charlie Gunson. Thankfully from a Marine viewpoint some excellent defensive work saw him dispossessed thus abating the danger.

It was Sholing now who were in the ascendancy and on thirty-one minutes a cross from Joe Rabbetts just eluded an advancing Brad Targett. Marine were having to dig deep defensively and in quick succession two threatening crosses from Jake Hesketh were effectively repelled.

The momentum was with Sholing as they kept surging forward with brio. However, on 43 minutes, and somewhat against the run of play, Marine restored their two-goal lead. Ryan Campbell played a neat one-two with Liban Ibrahim. Set clear down the left touchline the overlapping wing back whipped a cross to the back post where Michael Fernandes hit a perfectly drilled volley into the back of the net.

A minute later some loose defensive play saw Sholing’s Jake Hesketh given the opportunity to fire a shot at goal. His effort deflected off a defender and to Marine’s relief brushed the outside of the post.

The Boatmen came out all guns blazing at the start of the second half and in the fifty second minute Brad Targett tucked the ball home at the back post following an excellent low cross from Joe Rabbetts. Three-two to Marine and game very much on.

Eight minutes later the visitors restored their two-goal advantage. Sholing were looking vulnerable at corners and Marine had sensed their agita. Michael Fernandes was whipping in menacing corners and his sixtieth minute corner into the danger zone found Jake Lee at the back post who tapped home to make the score 4-2 to Marine.

The next twenty minutes of the match saw the home side throw caution to the wind thus leaving themselves open to the counterattack. Twice the pace of Michael Fernandes saw him break clear. In the first instance he opted to square the ball, but it was intercepted by a defender. In the second he went it alone but was kyboshed by an excellent Joe Rabbetts tackle.

On eighty-three minutes the home team scored their third. Having received the ball from Joe Rabbetts, Fabio Lopes took a couple of touches and then struck a powerful low shot from 25-yards into the bottom corner of the Marine goal. On eighty-five minutes the troublesome Fabio Lopes hit an excellent ball across the face of the Marine goal but no one in a Sholing shirt was able to get a touch.

With two minutes of normal time remaining Marine’s victory was secured. Harry Williams was played in for a one on one with the keeper by Olly Mehew. He advanced thirty yards towards goal, dipped a shoulder left and then right, rounded the scrabbling goalkeeper and masterfully stroked the ball into the empty net. All credit to the striker - he made the finish look easy.

The away side adeptly managed out the final few minutes with uncomplicated defending and good hold up play. Liban Ibrahim and Gabe Reivers showed experience beyond their years playing out time around an attacking corner quadrant in this final phase of the match.

Sholing will feel disappointed with the result. To score three at home and lose will undoubtedly be frustrating. However, several of their players put in good performances. Joe Rabbetts was a constant threat on the overlap, Charlie Gunson created several chances for teammates, and substitute Fabio Lopes made an impact scoring an excellent goal. Some words of praise are due to referee Paul Barber for some excellent use of the advantage clause. Two goals received help from his considered decision making.

From a Marine perspective it takes courageous management to change formations without the opportunity to embed this in a training session. Whilst there will undoubtedly be aspects that can be further refined the players adjusted well to the unfamiliar formation and looked a real threat going forward.

After the recent home defeat against Hungerford, I wrote some harsh comments on aspects of the Marine performance. This victory was the total opposite - players gave their all throughout with a feistiness to dig deep when needed.

Reflecting on the team’s efforts the back three with stood some intense periods of pressure - Fiachra Pagel also made some sharp saves. Wing backs Sam Turl and Ryan Campbell thrived on the increased scope to get forward. The midfield was more tenacious with Liban Ibrahim putting in an excellent performance.

Meanwhile strikers Dave Sims-Burgess and substitute Harry Williams gave the Sholing centre backs a torrid old time. Michael Fernandes produced a virtuoso display. He had defenders spinning like whirling dervishes. Credit also to substitutes who got to the pace of the match instantly, not an easy task in a game played at such a high tempo.

Well done Marine!

Line Ups

SHOLING
Manager: Paul Doswell
Colours: Red & White Halves
Line-up: 1. Pat Nash 2. Benny Reid 3. Joe Rabbetts 6. Harry Taylor 7. Charlie Gunson (18. Zidan Akers 78’) 8. Byron Mason (14. Seung Yang 72’) 10. Jack Hesketh (20. Fabio Lopes 72’) 11. Brad Target (12. Max Bustamante 73’) 15. Blaise Riley-Snow 16 Reece Wylie 17 Romoluwa Akinola (9. Dan Mason 73’)
Subs not used: None
Goalscorers: Romoluwa Akinola 27’ , Bradley Targett 52’ , Fabio Lopes 82’
Cards:
Jack Hesketh 27’, Harry Taylor 60’, Brad Target 63’, Joe Rabbetts 69’, Romoluwa Akinola 69’
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SWINDON SUPERMARINE
Head Coach: Stuart Fleetwood
Colours: All Yellow
Line-up: 1. Fiachra Pagel 2. Sam Turl 3. Ryan Campbell 4. Jake Lee 5. Ioan Richards 6.Liam Angel (20.Nick Peare 54’) 7. Jamie Edge (14.Anton Dworzak 75’) 8. Liban Ibrahim 9. Dave Sims-Burgess (12.Harry Williams 76’) 10. Michael Fernandes (15.Gabe Reivers 85’) 11. Olly Mehew
Subs not used: 16. Lucias Vine
Goalscorers: Dave Sims-Burgess , Michael Fernandes 10’, 43’ , Jake Lee 60’ , Harry Williams 88’
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Cards:
Jamie Edge 15’, Sam Turl 27’, Olly Mehew 86’
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Match Gallery

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Courtesy of Alex White Photography

Post Match Teamsheet

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Courtesy of Southern Football League

Match Officials

Referee: Paul Barber
Assistant Referees: Jordan White, Ash Douse