Swindon Supermarine 2-1 OCFC

City travelled West today in the hope of revenging their home defeat by Supermarine in January, whilst the Wiltshire side would be looking to maintain their position in the play-off positions. Both sides had debutants in their squads. Supermarine had ex-Bath and Taunton defender Stuart Pearson on the bench; whilst City would give talented youth-team player Mark Janes a run-out.
Mark Draycott’s feat of scoring all six goals for Supermarine against Hanwell a fortnight ago was recognised with a presentation of the match ball from that game before kick-off on a bright but blustery afternoon, and that wind was to play a major part in the goal that gave the visitors an early lead on three minutes. Following a City corner the ball was cleared to the wing where Rendell was fouled. Mark Jones took the kick and, with the wind behind it, the ball evaded attackers and defenders alike to nestle in the back of the net.
City were using Davis and Rendell well on the left but good defending by the home side generally kept attacks at distance and Marine were proving sharp on the break. Danny Allen almost put David Pratt in with a quickly taken free-kick, and then Luke Gullick ran deep into the defence before being stopped by a timely challenge from Adam Durrant. The home side were pressing strongly now, and after a hectic passage of play around the top of the City box the ball broke to David Stroud who curled a well-directed shot past Kieron Drake’s left-hand and into the top corner of the net to restore parity after 25 minutes. Marine continued to press and a deep cross saw an unmarked Gullick almost slide the ball home at the far post. City were finding it difficult to relieve the pressure on their defence and after 31 minutes when another cross from the Marine left was headed away only as far as Luke Gullick the player took his time and carefully placed his shot into the far corner of the net.
Gullick and Stroud combined well again just after that but the last quarter of an hour produced little in either goalmouth until Lewis Craker went close with a header from a Jones corner with the last action of the half.

HALF-TIME Supermarine 2-1 City

City made a double substitution at the break, with Mark Janes and Anthony Alleyne coming on in place of Durrant and Jones.
Stroud almost increased the lead but was narrowly offside; and then a dangerous cross from Justin McKay was just cut out by Drake. Draycott shot over the bar when a free-kick from Bennett found him in space in the City box, whilst at the other end Tom King had to be quickly off his line to reach a through ball before Anthony Alleyne.
The visitors were coming more into the game and good crosses from Janes, Randell and Alleyne caused moments of worry in the Marine defence, and a hooked shot from Alex Stewart had power but was, unfortunately, straight at King.
Draycott worked a good position for himself but eventually ran out of space, and another McKay free-kick flew through a crowded area without any of several players being able to make contact.
On 80 minutes Chris Harper just couldn’t quite get enough on a fine cross from Alleyne, and a minute later Lewis Craker sliding in at the far post was a whisker (bootlace?) away from giving a great cross from Steve Davis the finish it deserved.
The last chances of the half fell to the home side. Mark Draycott’s well-struck shot drew a good parry from Drake, but Matty Horsell, on as substitute for less than a minute, fired the rebound over the bar; and Nathan Edwards when well placed fired straight at Drake.

FULL-TIME Swindon Supermarine 2-1 Oxford City.

Supermarine: King, Henry, Allen, Edwards, McKay, Bennett, Pratt (Pearson 73), Jeffries (Emms 81), Draycott, Gullick (Horsell 86), Stroud.
City: Drake, Durrant (Janes 45), Davis, Lane, Craker, Merritt, Jones (Alleyne 45), Griffin, Stewart (Harper 75), Malone, Rendell.