Swindon Supermarine vs Gresley Rovers
On paper this game looked an easy 3 points for Gresley but in the end it was far from it.
Marine are forlornly sitting at the bottom of the Dr Martens Western Division not having won a match this term and with only two points for all their effort.
This was only the second game under new manager Ray Baverstock and with some new signings they were determined to have a go at ending their dreadful form.
The opening few minutes were a bit scrappy but then Gresley had their first chance on 8 minutes when Gary Smith picked out Chris Gray. His shot was well blocked by debutant home keeper Elliott Jackson but Andy Bourne unfortunately put the rebound over.
Marine hit back and Ian Howell’s pass to Jamie Thompson found the Gresley defence flatfooted. Thompson steered the ball wide of Gresley keeper James Lindley but also wide of the post.
The home side continued to put Gresley under pressure with Steve Bennett forcing a corner off defender Andy Cheetham.
The pressure paid off on 16 minutes when Marine took the lead. They were awarded a free kick on the right touchline which Bennett swung into the danger zone and Paul Hunt did well to glance his header past Lindley at the near post.
Marine’s lead lasted all of one minute. Smith hassled Matthew Goodwin in the home defence and won the ball, passed to Bourne and the resulting cross was met by Gray who easily beat Jackson with a shot just inside the post.
It was the visitors’ turn to turn the screw with Gray returning the compliment by crossing to Bourne but his near post header was this time saved by Jackson.
On 44 minutes Gresley were in front. Ian Bluck’s effort was blocked and the rebound fell to Gray. His first shot was well blocked but he was quick to react and hammered a shot into the top corner of the net.
The home side came out for the second half with all guns blazing and just three minutes from the restart they were level.
The Gresley defence failed to deal with a left wing cross and another Marine debutant Giles Harris forced the ball home from close range.
On 64 minutes things could have turned embarrassing for the visitors when Steve Winchicombe got the better of Jim Parkinson but Lindley did well to turn the ball round the post for a corner.
Still the danger was not cleared. Lindley failed to collect the corner and was fortunate to grab the ball on the line from a Grainge header. The referee needed the assurance of his assistant that the ball had not crossed the line.
Gresley went in front again on 78 minutes. Bluck found Bourne on the right and his cross-cum shot deceived the keeper and the ball looping over his head an into the net.
It was hard on the home side and to rub salt into an already smarting wound Gresley increased their lead in injury time.
Marine had been pushing forward looking for an equaliser when they got caught by a quick break by Gresley.
Bourne sent a superb pass to substitute Mark Peters who set off at a pace down the right. He fired in a low cross that was converted by fellow substitute Michael Crawford.
On balance, Gresley just deserved the points but Swindon Supermarine are sure to win games if they play with as much effort and courage as they showed today against their visitors.
Swindon Supermarine (1) 2
Gresley Rovers (2) 4
Scorers: Hunt 16, Harris 48 (Swindon Supermarine), Gray 17, 44, Bourne 78, Crawford 90 (Gresley Rovers).
Swindon Supermarine: Jackson, Thompson, Howell, Goodwin (Cleverley 30), Grainge, McCluskey, Davies, Harris, Winchicombe (Giles 75), Hunt (Bunting 81), Bennett. Sub not used: Titcombe.
Gresley Rovers: Lindley, Bluck, Cheetham, Hopkins (Crawford 88), Parkinson, Wardle, Barrett, Gray (Peters 75), Bourne, Smith (Kitching 70), G White. Subs not used: Tomlinson, Sheils (gk).
Rovers Star Man: Chris Gray worked hard and scored two good goals.
Referee: R Matthews (High Wycombe).
Attendance: 139
