Competition

Date

Thursday 19th August 2010

Marine get extra rest day after Weymouth draw

Mark Collier is glad of an extra day’s rest after a bruising encounter at Weymouth. His Supermarine side play on Sunday, rather than tomorrow, when they travel to Stourbridge. It comes on the back of an impressive 0-0 draw at Southern League giants Weymouth yesterday which added a few more names to the Webbs Wood Stadium treatment table. Nick Stanley, Chris Allen and Leigh Henry all picked up knocks at the Wessex Stadium. They join the previously injured Dave Bampton and Sam Morris on the list of doubts for the trip.

Stourbridge, playing home games on Sunday because of a Saturday clash with the neighbouring cricket team, have an infamous powerhouse style of play and Collier knows he needs all the fit bodies he can get. The Marine boss said: “Stanley got a knock and Richard Kear’s come off exhausted, Allen and Henry also got kicked so we’ll have to wait and see with them.

“The good thing about playing on Sunday is it gives us an extra day to recover from the Weymouth game and we also have a game next Wednesday so we need our squad in good shape. “Stourbridge lost their first game against Salisbury but won their second.

“It’s difficult to judge them after two games but they were three points off the play-offs last season and had a great FA Cup run and we know what to expect from them in terms of their physicality - it’s always like playing in the land of the giants and we’ll have to be able to handle that to get a result.”

Collier was certainly satisfied with last night’s work as Marine got their first Premier Division point on the board. New signing Jamie Gosling impressed and twice went close from range, with Stanley also narrowly off target in the first half. Chris Taylor (pictured) had a goal ruled out for handball and sub Steve Cook nearly broke the deadlock with a late cross-shot. “It’s a good results for us,” said Collier. “It was an intimidating atmosphere in front of a crowd of more than 700 and I think we had the better of the game. “Their bench was calling for the final whistle at the end. “To be honest I think we’ve played them at a good time because they have already added to their squad since Saturday and are looking to bring in some more.”

From a Terra's perspective

Hutch's regret

Ian Hutchinson admitted after last night’s goalless stalemate against Swindon Supermarine that he wished his side had put on a better show for all those that turned out to pay their respects to late club president Bob Lucas. In the first-ever competitive game to take place at the newly-named Bob Lucas Stadium, a crowd of 743 paid tribute to the ex-keeper with an emotional minute’s silence before the Terras failed to break down a lively Supermarine side in last night’s Zamaretto Premier Division clash. In a candid and honest post-match interview he said: “The only positive that came out of the first half was that we could not play any worse. “We looked nothing like the team that played so well in the 0-0 draw at Halesowen on Saturday. In fact, we were miles off it. We improved a little bit in the second half but with such a good crowd and it being such a poignant occasion it was a great shame that we failed to put on a better show.

“We are still lacking that bit of quality and we will continue to endeavour to get that in. We need to improve in the final third as defensively we are looking quite sound. The ball just did not stick up there tonight and when that happens you are always likely to struggle. “However, on the positive side, it’s another point and another clean sheet, and again there were some good performances.”

Prior to kick-off, Jean Lucas, Bob’s widow, cut a ceremonial tape on the halfway line to officially mark the renaming of the stadium before rejoining her relations on the edge of the centre circle for the minute’s silence. And with half the gate receipts being donated to the grieving family, Hutchinson was quick to thank all the fans for turning out in their numbers. He added: “It was great to see so many paying their respects but if we want to keep having big crowds we have certainly got to play better than that. As for the minute’s silence, I thought Jean was very brave going out to the centre circle with her family in what was a touching tribute to a Weymouth icon.”