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Match Report Swindon Supermarine 1 Evesham United 1 British Gas Business Southern League Premier Division Saturday 06.09.2008 By Chris Smith (Swindon Advertiser)
Harris nets on Marine debut Joe Harris hit a goal on his full debut, but Swindon Supermarine’s poor second-half showing saw them held to a 1-1 draw at home against Evesham, writes Chris Smith. Harris scored on the stroke of half time to give Marine a deserved lead at the break, but an early second half equaliser from Gary Hay made for a tight last third. Manager Mark Collier was disappointed that his side did not capitalise on their dominant first half performance.
He said: “That was two points lost for us really, I think first half we did ok, we got the ball into wide areas where we wanted to play, but in the second half we weren’t brave enough in possession really. “We went long too often, and obviously with their size and presence at the back we just played into their hands. “You have to be brave to get it down and play from the back, but we went route one too often, and that suited them because they were big, strong and organised at the back. |
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“We’ve put a team together to get the ball down and play how we think is the correct way, but unfortunately today we’ve looked a pretty ordinary team because we haven’t played in that manner.” Marine went into the break one up, as Harris cut inside Evesham full-back Tom Etheridge and hit his shot low into the corner of the net. The lead would have been far more comfortable had Chris Taylor, Steve Cook and Kyle Lapham taken their chances, but Marine had to settle for the slimmest of advantages-much to the frustration of their manager.
Collier said: “You have to take your chances when they come along. We’ve had a couple of decent chances in the first half and if we take them and go in at 2-0 then it’s a completely different game.” Marine were counting the cost of these missed chances on 55 minutes, as Gary Hay latched onto a through ball and rounded Matt Bulman to equalise for Evesham, despite appeals for offside from the Marine back four.
The visitors then began to dominate, and forced Bulman into three fine saves as Marine’s first half dominance was banished to the distant past. The last 15 minutes however, brought more of an ebb and flow, as both sides had chances to win it, but were unable to take them. Despite feeling it was a case of two points lost rather than one gained, Collier was keen to take the positives from the result-including the performance of recent signing Joe Harris. He said: “He’s going to be an asset for us, he’s got his debut goal, and once he settles down I’m sure we’ll see more from him.”
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From a Evesham perspective... Hay on target to earn Robins a point By Mervyn Collins (Evesham Journal) Swindon Supermarine 1, Evesham United 1 After an abject first half display, Evesham turned the tables on Saturday's hosts and could have returned home with all three points. Debutant Tom Etheridge had the visiting side's solitary goal attempt of the opening 45 minutes but his 38th minute volley flew a yard wide. Nathan Vaughan produced a couple of vital first half stops, while Steven Hands came to his rescue after 22 minutes when he made a crucial challenge six yards out after the goalkeeper had pushed aside Kyle Lapham's deflected drive.
Hands, though, was at fault when Supermarine opened the scoring after 44 minutes when Joe Harris fired in a left-footer from 18 yards that wrong-footed the United custodian. The Robins, missing injured skipper Steve Lutz and the suspended Simon Fitter, suffered another blow at half-time when Danny Scheppel failed to re-appear for the second period. And, had Vaughan not produced the save of the game to turn over Chris Taylor's 49th minute deflected strike, United's task would have been made harder.
Danny Hodnett ballooned a chance over two minutes earlier but Vaughan's save appeared to spur on Paul West's men and an equaliser arrived in the 56th minute. Hodnett's through ball picked out Gary Hay who came out of a challenge with the home goalkeeper with the ball that he rolled into the gaping goal. The scorer, who was having breathing problems, was replaced up front by full back Michael Hayden in the 65th minute and the change appeared to bring Danny Lennon to life.
After Mark Hands had fired over following the striker's run and cross, Lennon then saw two efforts deflected for corners, while Michael Batchelor, making his first start, saw a flying header from Etheridge's 74th minute corner flash narrowly over. Lennon's volley two minutes later was heading for the bottom corner until Matt Bulman plunged to his left to turn it for a corner. A second goal would have been deserved reward for West's charges but a fourth draw of the season will have been a welcome return considering the injury problems that were increased by an ankle injury to Mark Hands that could rule him out for a few weeks.
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