Last season Marine made a disastrous start, losing all of their first seven games, resulting in a change in management. Former player Stuart Fleetwood took the reins and steered his squad to safety with a final day three points. After disappointingly losing the first three games of this campaign, the Wiltshire team established themselves in mid-table. However, recent inconsistency will have lead to a few anxious glances behind as, with eight games to play, the gap to the relegation quartet has narrowed to just six points. Currently Fleetwood’s fellows sit 15th with a W11 D7 L16 GF 53 GA 61 record; on the green green grass of their Webbswood Stadium home it’s W6 D6 L5.
We’ve used the word inconsistent to describe various teams in our match previews this season, so it’s not unusual. Marine were winless in December, won three league games and a Wiltshire Premier Shield semi-final in January, winless again in February when they drew two and lost two, then beat Marlow on 1st of March before losing their next two. Their last six results are: Dorchester (a) lost 4-1; Bracknell (h) lost 2-1; Totton (h) drew 1-1; Marlow (a) won 2-0; Walton & Hersham (h) lost 3-0; and a 1-2 loss at Merthyr on Saturday when reports indicate that they deserved a point or more. Those results leave Marine next to bottom in the current form table, with only Marlow having gathered fewer points.
You have to look at the other end of that form table to find Tim’s team, second behind Walton & Hersham on goal difference. 14 points from an unbeaten run of six games has lifted The Magpies to 10th in the table that matters with a W12 D8 L13 GF 42 GA 49 record. However, on their travels the record is an unimpressive W3 D4 L8. Those last six results were Merthyr (h) 1-1, Poole (h) 1-0, Dorchester (a) 1-1, Frome (h) 1-0, Chertsey (a) 2-1, and Totton (h) 3-1. There’s been five different scorers in the last three games, with both Matty Burrows and Will Fletcher now in double figures for the season, and Cam Munn and Toby Holmes on the scoresheet in that terrific win over title hopefuls Totton on Saturday.
Who should we look out for at Swindon on Saturday? Harry Williams has netted 14 this season, one ahead of Michael Fernandes. You may recall that the reverse fixture back in September ended goal-less, but was full of incident. Fernandes received a yellow in the curious incident of his stuttering penalty run-up which was his second card of the game; the referee later evened things up with a second yellow for skipper Sam Jackson. Wimborne dominated the attacking stats but were unable to find a way past Marine’s man-of-the-match keeper Luke Parnell. A consistent performer for Fleetwood is defender Sam Turl who has been an ever-present this campaign.
The last time we visited, in April 2022, Marine came out on top 3-1 against James Stokoe’s already relegated team with Dan Bartlett scoring a consolation in time added-on.
A final fact: managers Fleetwood and Sills played together as a strike partnership at Hereford in League Two, so there’ll be plenty of reminiscing, and maybe re-playing of goals, in the clubhouse after the game.
Swindon Supermarine is one of my favourite clubs in the Southern League – a good ground to visit, friendly people, and hard-working Jez Webb is the epitome of a non-league club Chairman. Matches between the two teams are never dull, and after more than matching the division’s leading two teams last weekend, both The Magpies and Marine will fancy their chances of getting something from this one. Can you get there to support Tim’s team? COYM!
Marine’s ground: Supermarine Road, South Marston, Swindon, Wilts – SN3 4BZ c.90 miles
There are places available on the team coach – contact Paula if you’re interested.
Admission: Family of 4 (2 adults + 2 youths) £25; Adult: £12; concessions: £8; 12-17s £6; accompanied U12s free.
Average att: 286
Weather forecast: sunny intervals; 8oC; 10% chance of rain.
The sun can be surprisingly strong at this time of year, so I suggest that, if you are standing on the terraces, you keep your hat on.
