British Gas Business Football League

Premier Division

Saturday 25th April 2009

Marine lose out in derby

By Ned Payne » Swindon Advertiser

Supermarine were unable to secure bragging rights in their final Southern League game of the season against local rivals Chippenham Town. The Bluebirds cantered to a 3-1 win at Hunts Copse thanks to a three-goal blitz in the opening half hour, with ex-Marine man David Pratt among the scorers. Nick Stanley slammed home a stunning free kick just before the interval but Enoch Boateng was given a second booking early in the second half to all but end the hosts' hopes.

The result meant Marine ended the league season in 13th, while Chippenham finished eighth, missing out on the play-offs by just five points. Pratt put the visitors ahead from the penalty spot on 16 minutes. The former Marine hitman was cut down by Boateng in the area and picked himself up to slot past Matt Bulman and into the right corner. Supermarine barely troubled the Chippenham defence until mid-way through the half, with only a last-ditch challenge from Kevin Halliday denying Joe Harris a free shot at goal from six yards.

On 28 minutes the Bluebirds were further ahead as a Ross Adams free kick from the halfway line picked out the unmarked Luke Gullick at the far post, and he stabbed across Bulman and into the net. The game was beginning to turn into a procession for the visitors on 31 minutes, when Kevin Halliday floated in a cross from the left and the diminutive Lewis Powell rose highest to nod in the third.

Nick Stanley gave the hosts the slimmest of hopes seconds before the break, as he crashed a thunderbolt free kick just inside the left upright from 30 yards. But the difficulty of Marine's task was increased eight minutes after the break when Boateng needlessly flew in two-footed on Luke Gullick, and was promptly shown his second yellow card.

Gullick and Shaun Lamb both subsequently could have extended the lead following barnstorming runs, but Gullick passed when he should have shot and Lamb shinned wide. Supermarine created their only chance of the second half with nine minutes left, when substitute Sean Wood chipped in behind for Alan Griffin, but the striker lifted his shot just past the far post. Chippenham replacement Sean Seavill should have made it 4-1 at the death but cracked his shot straight at Bulman when one-on-one.