Supermarine
boss hails troops after securing safety
By Ned Payne » Swindon
Advertiser
Mark Collier hailed his
Swindon Supermarine squad after results elsewhere
ensured the Hunts Copse side will be playing Southern
League Premier Division football next season.
Although Marine were beaten
2-0 by new champions Farnborough at Cherrywood Road on
Saturday, losses for Hemel Hempstead Town and Merthyr
Tydfil meant Collier’s men are safe from the drop. And
although survival has looked likely for the last
fortnight, Collier was delighted to finally put an end
to the relegation battle that has been raging all season
long.
“The fat lady has been on
the stage for a while but she’s now singing,” he said.
“We’ve secured our Premier Division status for another
season which has been the main aim for the last five
weeks. “When we had 16 games in 30-odd days people
started to doubt it, but the club didn’t doubt it and
the players didn’t doubt it. “The players have shown
fantastic resolve and to secure safety with three games
to go is particularly pleasing.”
In front of a crowd of
nearly 1,400, hosts Farnborough took the lead on 20
minutes when Daryl McMahon’s fizzing free kick was not
cleared and Jack King hit home. The clinching goal came
in the 63rd minute when Dean McDonald’s quick feet
allowed him to fire a well-struck effort into the net.
“The bottom line is they aren’t at the top of the league
for any reason other than they have got very good
players and a very powerful squad,” said Collier.
“We gave away a couple of
goals that we think we could have defended a little bit
better, but we mustn’t forget what we’re up against.
“Overall they have got the three points their
performance warranted.”
From a Farnborough perspective...
Farnborough 2 Swindon Supermarine match report
