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Gloucester City 3 Swindon Supermarine 1 British Gas Business Football League Thursday 01.01.2009
By Anthony Marshall » Swindon Advertiser Supermarine boss Mark Collier is determined to shake off his New Year’s Day hangover after watching his side slump to a 3-1 defeat away at Gloucester City in the Southern League Premier Division on New Years Day. Two goals from Alex Sykes and a Jack Pitcher strike put an end to Marine’s unbeaten away league record this season, with Leigh Henry’s goal all the visitors had to show for their efforts.
“Of course it’s disappointing and it’s not a great way to start the New Year, but it’s only our first away defeat of the season in the league, so we’ve been doing pretty well,” he admitted. “We’ve had some luck of late, but maybe today we didn’t get that so much, and it’s just swings and roundabouts. “The pitch didn’t suit us at all and the game was in dispute at some stage as to whether it would go ahead. It wasn’t a great surface to play on because it was so heavy and it was probably more suited to their direct style. But I’m not using that as an excuse.
Sykes opened the scoring in the 37th minute when his long-range drive took a wicked deflection to completely deceive Marine keeper Matt Bulman. And just three minutes later, Bulman was picking the ball out of the back of the net again, as the same player once more sent a 25-yarder flying past him to double the home side’s advantage.
Henry made it 2-1 on 47 minutes when he fired home from close range as Gloucester failed to deal with Steve Cook’s cross, but Pitcher grabbed a third for the Tigers midway through the second half and Supermarine’s miserable afternoon was completed when Cook saw a late penalty saved by home stopper Kevin Sawyer.
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From a Gloucester perspective... The Tigers started 2009 in the best possible way with a comfortable 3-1 win over league surprise package Swindon Supermarine at the Corinium and in the process consigning Mark Colliers men to their first away defeat of the season. On a very cold day the pitch was a cause for concern as Hereford referee Andy Williams deemed it fit for play, much to the dismay of the Swindon camp. Their desire for an afternoon off didn't show as the game started though as they gave as good as they got against a spirited Tigers attack.
But two Alex Sykes goals in the run up to half time was a hammer blow to the Hunts Copse outfit. Syko's first looked to be heading towards the right hand post when a hefty deflection altered its path leaving 'marine keeper Matt Bulman rocking on his heels as the ball swerved inside the post. Just three minutes later City's midfield goal scoring machine was at it again thanks to a layoff from the hard working Will Morford as he rifled in a left footed drive from the edge of the box, again with Bulman a spectator. That is now 15 goals in 14 starts for Syko!
The second half started poorly for the Tigers as Swindon pulled a goal back through Leigh Henry (Thierry's younger brother) with a shot through Kev Sawyer's legs during the aftermath of a corner. But Jack Pitcher restored the two goal advantage when he pounced on Lee Smith's shot when it was half blocked by the Supermarine defence to poke the ball beyond the keeper who seemed to be concentrating more on a non existent offside flag than Pitcher and the ball.
With the game deep into injury time Tom Webb was penalised for a rash challenge on Steve Cook and the Swindon player dusted himself off, got up and coolly slotted the penalty kick to Sawyer's left. Problem was that City scout Dougie Foxwell had watched a previous Supoermarine spot kick from the same player and told big Kev to dive that way!
City : Sawyer, Sykes, Richards, Mustoe, Hamblin, Rose, Smith, Webb, Pitcher, Morford, Harris J. Subs (n/u) Ballinger, Thomas, Mehew, Harris A, Marshall
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