Wimborne Town 0 Marine 0

Match Report from Pete Crockett

PURNELL STYMIES MAGPIES

Marine keeper Luke Purnell produced an exceptional display of goal keeping that helped secure a point for a Marine side forced to play for all but two minutes of the second half with ten players. The Marine team deserve immense credit for a resolute defensive display with the whole team working steadfastly to prevent the home team from scoring.

The early exchanges were, in all honesty, a little scrappy with both teams surrendering possession more readily than their respective management teams might have liked.

In the third minute a shot from Harvey Wright was well held by the Marine keeper. Then with ten minutes elapsed the host’s Will Fletcher burst in on goal. Luke Purnell advanced and forced him wide. The striker from an acute angle rolled his effort into the side netting - much to the relief of the visiting supporters.

Luke Purnell saved all that came his way!
Image from Alex White Photography

In the 18th minute a surging run from Cameron Munn saw him square the ball into the box. Will Fletcher seemed to have the easiest of tap ins but Luke Purnell made a brilliant save to smother the striker’s effort.

The game then settled into a pattern. The Magpies had the greater pressure but struggled to create clear openings. Meanwhile the visitors looked relatively comfortable defensively but were rarely troubling the host’s back four.

Marine’s best opening saw Michael Fernandes embark on a mazy run and then square the ball to Jose Marquez. The Marine loanee, under pressure, dragged his shot wide of the far post. Just before half time Michael Fernandes was the recipient of a yellow card being deemed by the referee to have dived in search of a penalty kick.

Jose Marquez made his first start for Marine
Image from Alex White Photography

Then came the incident packed 47th minute. Michael Fernandes skipped past the Magpie’s left back and drove into the penalty area. He fired a shot at goal that struck a home player’s arm. Marine players appealed and the referee pointed to the spot. This was an award that even some of a Marine disposition might have deemed to be harsh.

Michael Fernandes took the spot kick. The host’s keeper dived one way and the penalty taker, following a commonly seen stuttered run up, side footed the ball into the other. However, the referee then intervened and penalised the scorer for an apparent transgression of Law 14.

The match official followed this up by awarding the home team an in-direct free kick and issuing Michael Fernandes with a second yellow card. Suffice it to say this was a minute of play that altered the balance of the match.

Defender Jake Lee led the side in Ryan Campbell’s absence and got many tackles and blocks in during the 100 minutes!
Image from Alex White Photography

Playing against ten men Wimborne applied the pressure. In the 53rd minute Harry Baker forced another sharp save from the Marine keeper. Ten minutes later it was the turn of the Magpies Will Fletcher to be thwarted by another excellent stop by the Marine custodian.

On 70 minutes the home team’s Matty Burrows fired a powerful volley on goal but once again Luke Purnell produced an excellent save. Two minutes later Jack Carmichael’s outside of the foot volley looked destined to nestle in the far corner of the goal. However, the Marine keeper produced yet another exceptional save.

The game was now settling into a pattern. Wave after wave of attacks poured in on the Marine goal. However, full backs Sam Turl and Liban Ibrahim did exceptionally well in preventing the Wimborne wide men getting to the dead ball line.

Liban Ibrahim had a good game deputising in the unaccustomed left back role for him
Image from Alex White Photography

This meant most crosses were launched from in front of the back four and were relatively easily dealt with by Jake Lee and Nick Peare, who had replaced Ioan Richards at half time, defended imperiously.

In 84 minutes Wimborne substitute Connor Cocklin nearly scored with his first touch but his close range shot was scuffed and easily gathered by the Marine keeper. With two minutes of normal time remaining the home team found themselves reduced to ten men when Sam Jackson was sent off for a second caution.

The board went up with a minimum of five additional minutes. In the fourth of those Will Fletcher saw the irrepressible Luke Purnell turn his header around the post. The hosts continued to apply the pressure winning a series of corners which Marine defended resolutely.

Jamie Edge came on in the second half and played well in front of the defence
Image from Alex White Photography

The fifth minute of added time elapsed, the sixth, the seventh, the eighth, and the ninth. Marine supporters were frustratingly checking their watches when, with the fifth minute of added added time looming, the final whistle was blown.

Wimborne Town will feel they created enough chances to have secured all three points. They were certainly unlucky to come up against a keeper in such fine form. Marine will know that they owe a massive debt to Luke Purnell who produced an outstanding display.

However, after the Michael Fernandes sending off this was an impressively resolute Marine performance from the whole team. The forwards defended diligently from the front; the midfield pressed, chased and dug deep into their energy reserves; the full backs did a sterling job in stopping the crosses coming in from dangerous areas; whilst Jake Lee and Nick Peare at the centre of the Marine defence weathered the second half aerial bombardment exceptionally effectively.

Anton Dworzak would have certainly been our star man on another day but for Purnell’s excellent performance
Image from Alex White Photography

Credit also to the management team who set the team up well to survive the Wimborne second half onslaught. This was, from a Marine perspective, very much a point gained than a point lost!

Editors Marine Star Man:Luke Purnell
Editors Wimborne Star Man: Jack Carmichael
Attendance: 522

Line Ups

Wimborne Town
Manager: Tim Stills Line-up: 1. Ross Fitney 3. Sam Jackson (c) 6. Harvey Wright 7. Jez Bedford (16. Lewis Beale 68’) 8. Harry Morgan 9. Will Fletcher 15. Sam Roberts 17. Harry Baker (11. Matt Burrows 60’) 18. Adam Bliss (4. Billy Walker 90’) 19. Cameron Munn (5. Conor Cocklin 83’) 20. Josh Carmichael
Subs Not Used: 10. Matt Neale
Goalscorers: None
Cards:
Harry Baker 59’, Cameron Munn 82’
None
Sam Jackson 43’, 89’

SWINDON SUPERMARINE
Head Coach: Stuart Fleetwood
Colours: All Yellow
Line-up: 1. Luke Purnell 2. Sam Turl 3. Liban Ibrahim 4. Jake Lee 5. Ioan Richards 6. Anton Dworzak 7. Zack Kotwica 8. Jose Marquez_ 9. Dave Sims-Burgess (14.Olly Mehew 85’) 10. Michael Fernandes 11. Harry Williams (14.Gabe Reivers 73’)
Subs not used: 13. Dan Brabham
Goalscorers: None
Cards:
Ioan Richards 32’, Zack Kotwica 37’, Liban Ibrahim 88’
None
Michael Fernandes 45’, 47’

Match Gallery

Click here
Courtesy of Alex White Photography

Team Sheet

Click here
Courtesy of The Pitching In Southern League

Match Officials

Referee: Robert Harrison
Assistant Referees: Adrian Knight, Ben Duffill