British Gas Business Football League

Saturday 24.01.2009

By Anthony Marshall » Swindon Advertiser

Marine hero Harris is no ordinary Joe

By Anthony Marshall »

Joe Harris came out of the shadows to play at starring role as he set Supermarine on their way to a 2-1 victory at Clevedon Town. The forward signed on at Hunts Copse in September from Thatcham Town, but has been forced into a largely bit-part role as Marine have risen towards the top end of the Southern League Premier Division. However, with Danny Allen missing through injury on Saturday, Harris was back in the starting 11 on the left-hand side of midfield, and didn’t disappoint as the visitors sealed their eighth away league win of the season. The youngster grabbed Supermarine’s opener and was a constant menace to the Clevedon defence, leaving boss Mark Collier admitting: “I was delighted with Joe.

“It’s not his natural position, but we thought he could do a job there because he can play in numerous positions. “We got an hour out of him and he scored a decent goal as well, so we’re happy with that. “He came to the club and did very well when he first started but he got sent off in an FA Trophy game at Bracknell and has had to fight his way back into the side. “But he's got a great attitude and that has been rewarded today with a start. “He’s a little bit tired because he played 90 minutes in midweek and 70 today, so we’ll see how he goes for next week, but he's done his chances of another start no harm at all.”

Marine threatened early on when Chris Taylor fired over the bar from the edge of the box, and deservedly took the lead on 19 minutes when Harris pick up a loose ball in the middle of the park and rode a couple of challenges before drilling a low shot into the bottom corner. Jonathan Kift went close for the league's basement boys as keeper Matt Bulman had to turn his shot onto the crossbar, but Supermarine looked to have extended their lead in the 32nd minute.

Steve Cook's superb cross from the right was chested back to his own keeper by Clevedon defender Josh Brigham, but it was misjudged and appeared to have crossed the line before stopper Danny Greaves clawed it out. It took Marine just 12 minutes of the second half before they finally doubled their lead. Justyn McKay fed Nick Stanley on the edge of the box, and the fullback's deflected shot found its way through a group of defenders.

Leigh Henry and substitute Luke Hopper both had chances to put the result beyond doubt before Clevedon's Tom Billings headed home on 74 minutes to reduce the arrears. However, the visitors held on and Collier said: “It was a good three points, although we certainly weren’t at our best. “They’re fighting for their lives and were always going to have a go, but I thought we created the clearer chances and maybe if we had taken them it would have been a more comfortable win. “A lot of big teams have come here and dropped points, so I thought we did well.”