Swindon Supermarine v Hendon Preview

Marine v Hendon Preview

From Nick Taylor

After their battling triumph last weekend at home to Plymouth Parkway, Marine complete their trilogy of home fixtures when they host visitors Hendon this Saturday afternoon, kick off 3:00pm.

Following their midweek postponement away at Sholing, Hendon arrive at The Webbswood Stadium sitting comfortably mid-table in twelfth place, after having had an excellent first half to the season. This included an impressive run in the FA Trophy with Hendon beating Oldham Athletic away in the Fourth Round. Eventually losing 4-0 to Wealdstone in the Fifth Round.

However, their League form of late has seen them draw too many games and last won back on January 1st when the defeated Hayes & Yeading 4-3 at Silver Jubilee Park. Whilst Marine were beating Plymouth Parkway in a gutsy 3-0 victory last Saturday, our visitors lost out by the odd goal with a 3-2 defeat at in-form Basingstoke Town.

The two sides previously met back on Saturday 2nd December, with Stuart Fleetwood’s side ending Hendon’s then unbeaten home record in this 2023/24 season with a cracking 3-2 win, thanks to goals from Dave Sims-Burgess, Toby Raison and Levi Irving.

Now in his fourth spell with the club, striker Niko Muir carries the main goal-threat for the visitors, with 16 goals to date. The 31-year-old centre-forward, who counts Hartlepool, Woking and Hungerford Town amongst his previous clubs, can be a real handful and Marine’s defence will need to keep him quiet today if victory is to be achieved. Ex-Stevenage & Wealdstone forward Joe White has scored seven goals and influences Hendon’s play a lot.

Marine Head Coach Stuart Fleetwood commented ahead of the clash, “A return to home for a third game in a row. A positive last three results picking up seven points from nine. A result versus Hendon will mean a serious run in form at just the right time. Our 27th game together on Saturday as a group that sees us sixth in the form table in that time. A truly remarkable effort to get us to this point.”

Henry Spalding returns after serving a one match ban for his two yellow cards against Tiverton, whilst Tom Sharpe is only player unavailable due to his long-term knee injury.