Competition

Date

Saturday 29th January 2011

Match Report by the Swindon Advertiser

Erskine firing - but don't tell Hockaday

Jacob Erskine (pictured) continued his flying start to life at Supermarine - but try to keep it quiet. The burly striker made it two goals in two games since joining on loan from Forest Green Rovers as he nodded in Marine’s decisive second in the 2-1 win at Hemel Hempstead. The South Marston club have use of his services until Forest Green boss Dave Hockaday deems him fit enough for a place in his Blue Square Premier outfit. So Marine manager Mark Collier is doing all he can to persuade Hockaday that Erskine is still struggling, even if it’s not entirely true. “Jacob has done well again, he’s made one and he’s scored one,” said Collier. “He still needs games to be fair and was tiring at the end. “We’ve basically got him here until Forest Green decide he’s fit enough to go back there and play. “So if anything he’s started too well for us and they’ll be wanting him back sooner than we’d like. “Dave Hockaday called me after the game and asked how he’d done - I told him he’s definitely nowhere near ready!”

 

Marine’s pre-match preparations were hindered when Dave Bampton injured himself in the warm-up so Danny Allen came in for a rare start at left-back with veteran Matt Robinson moving into the centre to nurse youngster Jon Beedon. The makeshift back four proved a sturdy unit as Marine controlled the first half and Erskine got the ball rolling just before the break, releasing Steve Cook down the right and his cross was met on the run by Ben Wells’ neat finish. Erskine finished the job himself on 79 minutes when Nick Stanley’s cross found Mitch Bryant, his initial effort was saved but the on-loan former Gillingham forward was on hand to convert the follow up. Dennis Fenemore pulled one back late on but Marine comfortably held on to the lead, putting an end to a three-game losing streak in the Southern Premier Division.

 

Collier said: “It probably looks closer on paper than it was. “We’ve had several chances and their keeper has made some good saves. “We’ve had three tough games before this but our confidence hasn’t really dipped because we have put in good performances, especially in the defeat to Salisbury, but it was important we got a result and we’ve done that now.”

 

Match Report from an Hemel perspective ~ Nothing to report as yet!