Players

Match Report

Merthyr Tydfil 1

Swindon Supermarine 2

British Gas Business Southern League

Premier Division

Tuesday 02.09.2008

Swindon Supermarine boss Mark Collier is playing down his side’s chances of a play-off push as their fine early season form continued with a gritty 2-1 win at Merthyr Tydfil. The triumph in wretched conditions in Wales sees Marine sat comfortably in the top six in the Southern Premier Division, but Collier, pictured, refuses to talk up a promotion assault at this stage of the campaign.

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Supermarine boss Mark Collier He said: “We’ve only played one of the supposed top sides in this league so far. “That was Corby and they turned us over. We use that as a yardstick so we’re not going to get carried away and start talking about the play-offs yet.” Marine burst into life after an uneventful first half, with Chris Taylor’s drive from the edge of the box taking a deflection before nestling in the Merthyr net.

Taylor went close again from Steve Cook’s cross and Luke Hopper hit the bar before the visitors scored a second. Enoch Boateng latched on to a long ball and smashed in a brilliant effort from 25 yards to give Marine a cushion. New signing Joe Harris was given a late run out and Steve Williams pulled a goal back with five minutes left but Marine sustained a last-ditch bombardment to seal the win.

Collier added: “We did it with a bit of grit and determination. "The wind and rain made it really difficult but we battled away and the back four were excellent, and we’ve scored two very good goals at the other end.

From a Merthyr perspective...

The Martyrs put in a good performance against Swindon Supermarine last night, but slipped back into the Southern League Premier Division relegation zone after falling to a 2-1 defeat at Penydarren Park. After a goalless first half, the visitors went ahead on 56 minutes through Taylor. Boateng made it 2-0 to Swindon with ten minutes left, to seemingly take three points back to Wiltshire. Steve Williams rose highest from a corner on 87 minutes to bring The Martyrs back into the fold and set up a nervous finish, but despite several goal scoring opportunities the match finished 2-1 to Swindon Supermarine.

www.merthyrfootball.co.uk/mtfc_v swindonsupermarine

Swindon Supermarine players celebrate their opening goal at Penydarren Park