Post by malcolm on Apr 28, 2024 20:25:15 GMT 1
My final match report of the season.
Winchester lost their final match of the season 3-0 to Swindon Supermarine and ended up 11th position with Hendon moving above them as a result of winning their final match of the season against Didcot.
Winchester in only their second season at this level achieved as many wins as losses in the league improved on last season's results and though one could say that if they had not last all of their last six away games and one can reflect that if they had finished the campaign away from home as well as they started it with 16 points from their first 7 games including wins at Chesham and Merthyr they could have been right in the mix in the battle for a playoff place it certainly has been a season in which Winchester have continued to progress both on and off the field and have certainly given manager Craig Davis who has rotated the squad well during the campaign the foundations to continue to build on this improvement.
Swindon Supermarine who were formed in 1992 as a merger of Swindon Athletic (formerly Penhill) and Supermarine. They are now in their 23rd season as a Southern League club and their ninth in the Premier Division. Last season they finished 6th narrowly missed the playoffs finishing 6th, but this time around they made a disastrous start to the campaign losing their first 7 league games of the season and having 4 points on the board after 14 games
However they went into this match having obtained 42 points from their last 27 games with the first victory in the sequence being a win against eventual champions Chesham. Their current manager Stuart Fleetwood who as a player was the National League's leading scorer in 2007/08 and played an important part in Eastleigh's promotion to the National League in 2013/14. However despite their recent improvement they went into this match in the relegation zone.
The position for Swindon Supermarine for this match was they simply had to win. If they lost they would remain in the relegation zone, if they drew they could avoid the drop only if Hayes and Yeading failed to win and the Beaconsfield v Plymouth Parkway produced a sufficiently heavy win for either side that was never going to happen in practice. However a victory would keep them clear of the bottom three and ensure that at least one of Beaconsfield and Plymouth Parkway could not match their total of 49 points.
Winchester kept an unchanged starting line-up from Saturday's win against Beaconsfield. The only change came on the substitutes bench with Henry Brooks replacing Devon Arnold.
Winchester made a bright start to the game. In the first quarter of a shot well saved by Flachra Paget in the home goal, Trevor Cabomn making a couple of dangerous runs one of which produced a header from Sam Ashton that forced a routine save from Paget and a curling effort from I K Hill being saved by Paget at the expense of a corner.
It was a nervous start by the home team who were under pressure to achieve a result, but they gradually grew into the game and Harry Williams who has returned to the club after being comfortably their leading scoter last season forced a save from Luke Cairney in the Winchester goal.
The game then became fairly even with both teams having half chances without either goalkeeper being seriously tested in this period, However Swindon got the all important breakthrough goal in the 35th minute with Ryan Campbell drilling a shot home after making a good run to be in a position to score.
The relief in the home camp at going ahead was very noticeable and before half time Michael Fernandes shot just over for the home team, but it was 1-0 at the interval.
Early in the second half Williams came close to scoring a second for the home side, but it was 2-0 when Williams broke clear of the home defence and squared the ball for Fernandes who was left with a simple tap in. There were strong appeals in the Winchester camp for offside, but the goal was given and Winchester now had an uphill task to get back into the game.
Winchester respond by bringing on their Smith and Jones combination of Max Smith and Dan Jones and they replace I K Hill and Dan King.. Ashton shoots
just wide following a cross from Caborn, while on the counter attack George Dowling breaks clear of the Winchester defence.
Winchester make their third change of the afternoon with Tommy Wright replacing Sam Ashton. Winchester had come from 2-0 behind o earn a point in the return fixture, but it was a tall order for them to do it on this occasion with so much at stake for the home team.
Although Cairney has to make a further save following a goalmouth scramble Winchester did have their chances with Paget saving a bicycle kick from Caborm and Pip Nolan shot over when well placed. However the victory was effectively sealed with five minutes remaining when Fernandes broke clear and his effort was deflected past Cairney.
Although in added on time Dan Jones curled in a shot that wide the result of the game was never in doubt once the third goal in.
Swindon's great escape was celebrated with great enthusiasm by members of their fanbase bothy, old, young and between the two and they offered great hospitality to the visitors.