British Gas Business Football League

Premier Division

Saturday 17th January 2009

Collier satisfied with stalemate

By Sam Morshead » Swindon Advertiser

Swindon Supermarine boss Mark Collier was content if not ecstatic with a 0-0 draw at against fellow Southern Premier League promotion contenders Merthyr Tydfil at Hunts Copse. “I’m disappointed not to get three points. I think our play warranted it,” insisted Collier, whose Supermarine outfit have now gone three league games without a win.

”We failed to convert a couple of good opportunities and we’ve hit the crossbar - we were definitely the team in the ascendancy. “But we have to look at the bigger picture which is that we’ve taken four points off the second placed team in our division.” Collier maintained after the game that his side’s impressive run in the FA Trophy has been anything but a distraction from the promotion push. “The longer that we’re in the cup, the longer the team’s confidence is high,” said Collier who was quick to point out that Supermarine’s promotion bid was far from stuttering.

“No one is going to win game after game after game. This league is relentless. A point keeps us in the race.” Further distraction from the league campaign presents itself in the form of the Wiltshire Premier Shield on Wednesday with Salisbury City the visitors and Collier expects to let the fringe players in his squad make a case for themselves. “Wednesday’s motivation will be for fringe players to force themselves into the first team. It keeps everyone on their toes.” Saturday’s 0-0 draw against Merthyr Tydfil was an attritional contest.

In the swirling wind, Ashley Edenborough had the best chance for the home side in the opening 45 minutes, narrowly shooting wide from 12 yards just past the half hour. In the second period Supermarine began to dominate as Andrew Delve in the Merthyr goal did well to deny Alan Griffin on the hour before Mark Draycott rattled the crossbar from eight yards in the dying minutes. Despite Supermarine’s dominance it was left to Matt Bulman in the home goal to earn a point as he produced a fine save to keep out Merthyr player-manager Garry Shepherd’s tremendous 20-yard effort. Bulman’s clean sheet also earns him a home-baked cake from his manager’s mother thanks to bonus written into his contract! The stalemate leaves both sides in the playoff picture.