Match Report

Farnborough 1

Swindon Supermarine 0

British Gas Business Football League

Southern League Premier Division

 

 

 

Saturday 18.04.2009

By Ned Payne (Swindon Advertiser)

 

Injury-hit Marine going into freefall

Depleted Supermarine saw their miserable run of form continue on Saturday as they were defeated 1-0 at Southern League title chasers Farnborough. Michael Charles’ 17th goal of the season just before the hour meant Mark Collier’s troops have now recorded only one win in the last 14 league games.

 

With Marine missing a number of key players for what was their 10th game in 22 days, manager Collier did not complain with the efforts of his team. “We performed adequately considering the situation we’re currently in,” said the Hunts Copse chief.

 

“It was an even encounter, the difference being the last 20 minutes when we were looking to step it up as the away team, we found it difficult due to the amount of games we’ve had. “If we’d had some fresher legs around we’d have been in with a shout of picking up some points.

 

“Credit to the players, they kept going in difficult circumstances.” Saturday’s game at Cherrywood Road was thin on chances, with Adam Wilde lifting a strike above the crossbar and Nic Ciardini crashing a fizzing drive over in the first half. Charles got the winner on 59 minutes when he latched onto Mark Gamble’s flick-on and shot right-footed past Matt Bulman.

 

Alan Griffin and Nick Stanley both had chances to draw Marine level before Bulman denied Gamble at the other end.

 

From a Boro perspective...

The title race is still very much on as Farnborough stay just two points behind Corby Town following this narrow victory over Swindon Supermarine at Cherrywood Road.

Michael Charles notched his 17th league goal of the season just before the hour mark, to confirm Boro’s title ambition and a second successive promotion. The game wasn’t pretty and chances were at a premium for both sides. Adam Wilde will feel that he should have put Boro ahead as great play by Gamble set him up for the shot, which he blazed over the bar. Nic Ciardini’s 30 yard effort also flew narrowly over the top.

The game was crying out for a goal and one finally arrived in the 59th minute, Mark Gamble flicked on to Michael Charles who’s right foot shot bounced over the outstretched arm of Matt Bulman and nestled in the bottom corner to the delight of the majority of fans inside the ground.

Swindon never gave up and attacked Boro as the nerves started to show. Alan Griffin’s header was deflected just wide of the post, and Barnard had to save at close range from Nick Stanley. Gamble almost topped off his performance with a brilliant solo goal, he ran form midway in his own half as Boro had cleared a Marine corner, he went past both defenders, his shot was well blocked by Bulman.

As the final whistle went, the fans celebrated as an important three points was gained, so to the game in hand on Tuesday in South Wales. t might not always be pretty but at this stage of the season it is all about taking the three points.