Swindon Supermarine 1

The Hunts Copse chief admitted he was bemused by the amount of added time played as the British Gas Business Southern League Premier Division leaders snatched an undeserved 1-1 draw courtesy of Mark Gamble’s header in Saturday’s top-of-the-table clash. It meant the gap between second-placed Marine and the visitors remained at four points going into the Christmas period but, after a fortnight which saw his men score four times at Halesowen and dump Blue Square Premier Eastbourne Borough out of the FA Trophy, Collier was not about to have a dampener put on his festive season.

He will reward his heroic squad with a night off training this week, before delivering the rousing New Year’s message that Marine must build on a sensational first four months of the campaign. “I did try to ask the referee about the amount of time added on, but he wasn’t really in the mood to explain,’’ said Collier. “I don’t know where it came from and, of course, we’re disappointed to concede a goal right at the end of the game.

“But looking at the season as a whole, it could actually be a big point for us and I’m happy with the way we played. “The lads are a little tired. We’ve had three big games in Halesowen, Eastbourne and Farnborough and to come out of that little run undefeated is a great credit to their efforts. “We can have a little rest now. We’ll just do one training session this week.’’

Steve Cook fired home a 13th-minute penalty to give Marine the lead after Ashley Edenborough had been shoved over in the area and the home side had other chances through Cook and sub Mark Draycott while, at the other, Matt Bulman repelled the best of Farnborough’s attacks. That looked to be enough until Gamble barged past defenders to get his head to a corner and rescue the leaders.

Nevertheless, Collier’s squad can approach the second half of the season revising their targets upwards. The manager added: “At the start of the year, we wanted to improve last season’s points tally (54) and position (12th).

“We’re most certainly the surprise package of this division and if you look at the other sides, we’re above some famous non-League clubs and battling with some famous names. “I’m satsfied with how this year has gone so far - that’s all credit to the players. Now we must build on it and get something out of the season.’’

From a Farnborough perspective...

Gamble Pays Off Again

Swindon Supermarine 1-1 Farnborough By Mark Hardy at Hunts Copse

Mark Gamble produced the goal eight minutes into injury time to give 'Boro a deserved point in a match where their hosts decided to play spoiling tactics as soon as they took the lead. Up until then Swindon actually played some nice stuff and bizarrely took the lead on 13 minutes, somehow the referee had spotted a foul as Woozley and Beazley came out for the ball, Lyall claimed the ball and the Swindon attacker jumped over him and rolled about. The referee delayed and then pointed to the spot, if penalties are going to be given for that, then we should be seeing about fifteen per game. Beazley went the wrong way as Steve Cook slotted home, much to the delight of the bumper crowd.

Farnborough did have chances, Darren Wheeler’s corner on five minutes was volleyed by Adam Doyle goal wards only for a great save by Matt Bulman. It wasn’t a quiet day for Bulman as 'Boro rained in plenty of long distance attempts. Boro did have the lions share of the play and despite not having levelled things up, they would have been pleased with the fact that Swindon were not attacking anymore and slowed the game up considerably.

Boro’s best chance of the half came as half time approached, Michael Barima’s right wing cross was floated to the far post, where Wheeler headed goal wards, Bulman again proving his ability to keep the ball out. From the resultant corner Woozley headed Wheelers corner just wide. It was the same combination in the second half as Woozley’s header went over the top as Wheeler had produced a curling free kick after Rumbold was fouled. The game was starting to get physical and as soon as a Farnborough player went to make a challenge, the home side resorted to wasting time.

'Boro were the only ones who wanted to play and super sub Marcus Richardson was introduced and he almost had an immediate effect on the game. His surging run and pass to Michael Charles allowed Charles to shoot, Bulman got a hand on it and it was cleared off the line by Kyle Lapham.

Then as the clock skipped passed the 97 minute mark, a drop ball fell Boro’s way, after an injury to a marine player, Richardson somehow battled his way down the left and won a corner. Everybody was up for this bar Barima, even Beazley had made his way into the opposition penalty area. The corner was taken and as the ball came over, Bulman was caught in no mans land, it landed at the feet of Gamble, who shot high into the roof of the net, to the delight of the travelling faithful.

In the end, Marine’s time wasting a delaying tactics came back to bite them and maybe another day they will go to win the game more positively.