SOUTHERN LEAGUE: Marine hold Stags in stalemate
10:55pm Wednesday 22nd February 2012 in Latest News By Ned Payne
TEN-MAN Supermarine held title-chasing Totton to a 0-0 draw at the Webb’s Wood Stadium tonight to boost their hopes of Southern Premier survival.
Even the harsh dismissal of centre-back Tom Cole in the second half did not detract from a manful performance by Gary Horgan and Matt Robinson’s men.
Employing a wing-back system with a tight midfield three, Marine’s tactics worked a treat, although it didn’t make for a particularly edifying spectacle in the falling drizzle of the first half.
The visitors did not carve out a single clear opportunity in the opening 45 minutes, the closest they came being five minutes before the break, when Mike Gosney half-volleyed into the net but saw his effort ruled out for a blatant shove on Kyle Lapham.
Otherwise, all the chances fell Marine’s way, although they were thin on the ground and hardly gilt-edged.
Rob Dean was first to have go but his strike dribbled weakly wide from 20 yards, before Bradley Gray could not leap high enough to meet a Lapham cross effectively, the ball skidding several yards off-target.
The majority of the first half was played in the middle of the field, with the only remaining action of note being when Sam Morris was booked for a lunge on Ross Bottomley and Gosney had an effort ruled out.
Despite losing combative skipper Dave Bampton to injury moments into the second period, Marine did not lose their bite or discipline in the middle of the park.
That said, Nathaniel Sherborne still spurned a glorious opportunity when he poked over after keeper Ash Harrison parried Gosney’s awkward free kick into his path.
And Ryan Moss skewed across goal on 59 minutes following great work by Sherborne.
Totton’s Nathan Campbell was fortunate to escape with just a yellow card for a crunching late challenge midway through the second period, before Cole was unlucky to go off for his second yellow card, given for a raised boot.
Harrison palmed a corner away with moments left and Marine survived the best part of 10 minutes added time to earn a point.
Joint-boss Matt Robinson said: “We tried a different system tonight and conditions weren’t ideal, but the work rate from the players was fantastic and their attitude was brilliant.”
