Entertainment Swindon

Match Report: Pete Crockett

Swindon Supermarine extend their winning league run to four! Marine made it four successive league victories with an impressive 3-1 win over Paulton Rovers, producing some sparkling football on a mellow late-summer afternoon at the Imagine Cruising Stadium.

Marine came into the game with a small collection of absentees. Dan Warre, Brad Hooper, Tyger Hall and Jordan Annear were all unavailable, but if Bobby Wilkinson’s squad was depleted in numbers there was precious little evidence of it in the football they produced.

This was an excellent Marine performance: energetic without becoming frantic, patient when patience was required, and illuminated by passages of sparkling attacking football.

With two minutes elapsed it was Paulton who offered the first warning. Brandon Bak, who was to prove the visitor’s most persistent attacking threat, skilfully made himself enough space for a shot, but Joel Halliday was equal to it in the Marine goal.

Marine’s first notable effort came after seven minutes. Marcel Lewis, lively from the outset, tried his luck from the edge of the penalty area, but visiting goalkeeper Archie Matthews gathered safely.

Five minutes later Jowan Partridge strode forward from defence and struck the ball cleanly from distance, his effort whistling narrowly past the post.

Lewis, meanwhile, was beginning to make life distinctly uncomfortable for the Paulton right-back. Quick, direct and willing to run at his man, he repeatedly found room on Marine’s left and delivered several dangerous crosses.

Marine enjoyed the greater share of possession, though Paulton’s back four proved stubborn opponents. Indeed for much of the opening half-hour Marine’s attractive approach play found a resolute Somerset barrier in its way.

Paulton then enjoyed their best spell of the half just after the thirty minute mark. A Bak free-kick from the edge of the area was deflected wide and three successive corners briefly had Marine on the defensive. But the tide soon turned again.

On 37 minutes Lewis produced a delightful piece of control to bring down a lofted ball before fizzing a ball across goal which only just eluded Sal Abubakar at the far post.

A minute later Marine came closer still. Rhys Tyler unleashed a tremendous strike which keeper Matthews did well to parry. The loose ball fell enticingly among a crowd of players, but somehow nobody in Marine blue could administer the final touch.

By now there was a growing sense of inevitability about proceedings. Marine were building up a head of steam and Paulton’s resistance was beginning to look increasingly precarious. The breakthrough duly arrived three minutes before half-time.

Abubakar fashioned a delightful cross and CONOR McDONAGH, stretching to reach it, supplied the deftest of touches to divert the ball beyond Matthews. It was the finish of a natural goalscorer: no unnecessary violence, merely the instinct to arrive in precisely the right place and apply precisely the right touch.

Paulton reminded Marine of their own attacking capabilities early in the second half when a Marine corner suddenly became a visiting counterattack. Their winger advanced down the left and lashed a cross-shot across the face of Halliday’s goal.

But on 58 minutes Marine produced the game’s finest goal. Abubakar and Tyler combined neatly on the left before the latter curled in a delectable swerving cross. TAWANA CHANGA met it with a beautifully judged front post glancing header, directing the ball inside Matthews’ far post. There are headers which are essentially collisions between forehead and football. This was not one of them. Changa’s was a header of calculation, delicacy and timing.

At 2-0, Marine were now playing with confidence and freedom. Eight minutes later Abubakar almost added another after a splendid piece of wing play. Quick feet and searing acceleration carried him into shooting range, but his effort slipped tantalisingly past the far upright.

The third was not long delayed. A cross from the right found McDonagh lurking where good strikers so often lurk. He supplied the touch, Matthews made a desperate attempt to claw the ball away, but it had sufficient momentum to trickle inexorably across the line. McDonagh CONOR McDONAGH had his second and Marine had three.

Paulton, to their credit, never allowed the game simply to drift away from them. Jack Dancey remained resolute at centre-half and Bak continued to offer an attacking threat. Their persistence brought some reward on 82 minutes, albeit from an unlikely source. Halliday was dispossessed on the edge of his penalty area and DYLAN GOULD gratefully rolled the ball into the unguarded net.

It was an error from the Marine goalkeeper, certainly, but one which should be viewed in its proper context. Joel Halliday has made enough outstanding and, at times, match-turning saves for Marine for one error in 560 minutes of competitive football to be swiftly erased from the memory.

There was still time for an unnecessarily untidy ending. On 90 minutes Changa appeared to have been fouled, although the referee, well positioned, thought otherwise. A frenzied contest for the loose ball followed and Abubakar became involved in the ensuing contretemps. A second yellow card followed and Marine finished the game with ten men.

In truth, both his cautions were avoidable. Sal Abubakar possesses more than enough footballing ability to hurt opponents with the ball at his feet. The lesson is simply to step away from needless confrontations and allow that considerable footballing talent to do the talking. It was an unfortunate footnote to what had otherwise been an impressive Marine afternoon.

Paulton competed gamely throughout. Dancey was strong in defence while Bak was their most persistent attacking presence. Afterwards their manager readily accepted that Marine were worthy winners, although he felt his side had done well to weather the early pressure. His greater frustration was that Paulton had failed to retain possession sufficiently well in transition — and Marine had punished them for it.

For the home side there were fine performances throughout the team. The full-backs, Sam Turl and Rhys Tyler, were particularly impressive. Defensively they gave Paulton’s wide players little opportunity to deliver crosses; going forward they were a constant presence on the overlap, Tyler’s superb delivery for Changa’s goal the outstanding example.

At centre-half, Ollie Case and Jowan Partridge defended commandingly. Partridge’s contribution went beyond the conventional duties of a defender. His willingness and ability to carry or pass the ball purposefully out of defence repeatedly brought Marine’s midfield into the game and earned him the home team player-of-the-match award.

Ahead of them Gabe Reivers, Changa and Joe Shepherd formed an industrious and intelligent midfield trio, pressing determinedly to regain possession and generally using the ball wisely once they had won it. On the flanks, Abubakar and Lewis were a constant menace, Lewis in particular looking an excellent addition to the Marine squad.

And then there was McDonagh. The experienced striker scored twice, both finishes bearing the unmistakable stamp of a predator goalscorer.

Afterwards Bobby Wilkinson was understandably delighted. Following Saturday’s defeat the Marine manager had wanted a response and felt that every player involved had demonstrated genuine leadership: taking responsibility, working for one another and refusing to leave the difficult aspects of the game to somebody else.

The Marine faithful certainly shared his satisfaction. They had watched a side hampered by absences nevertheless play with confidence, invention and considerable collective purpose. Four successive league victories sees Marine sit atop the table. This is a team with an abundance of qualities.

Next comes a visit to Winslow United and the theatre of the FA Cup.

Attendance: 402

Match Report: Pete Crockett