Frontmen try out for Marine (From This Is Wiltshire)

Frontmen try out for Marine

9:00am Monday 20th July 2009

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SWINDON Supermarine began their pre-season campaign with a 2-0 defeat at home to Blue Square South outfit Bath City on Friday evening.

A squad featuring new signings Mark Barnes, Matt Robinson and Tom Bird was selected for the match, with several triallist strikers also being included.

Ex-Cardiff man Sam Wade, former Forest Green player Temipope Arojogun and Andy Philpott, who had impressed in training, also had run-outs.

But the team was without Chris Thompson, Mark Draycott and Steve Cook, who have signed for Cirencester Town, Didcot Town and Hungerford Town respectively this summer.

Following a goalless first half, City’s Jack Allward gave the visitors the lead when he fired home minutes into the second period.

The match was settled when Leigh Henry turned into his own net mid-way through the second half.

Supermarine boss Mark Collier was not too concerned about the result afterwards, saying: “It’s about our players getting to know each other, we’ve got three or four (new faces) in there.

“Obviously the second half was a little bit disjointed when we’ve got players on we’re not too sure about.

“But it was a very worthwhile exercise and it served its purpose.”

Two Marine players who did not take part were midfielder Justyn McKay and left-back Danny Allen.

McKay had an operation to reconstruct his ankle over the summer and is believed to be a month away from first team action, meaning he could miss the start of the season.

Allen was nursing a sore back but will be fit to take part in Marine’s next friendly, away to Wantage Town on Friday (kick-off 6.30pm).

Marine’s reserve side recorded a 1-0 victory over Wootton Bassett Town on Saturday morning, Matt Cosnett bagging the winner.

Meanwhile, Hellenic Premier side Shrivenham opened up their pre-season with a 1-1 draw at home to Abingdon United on Saturday.

Summer signing Blaine Fitzgerald equalised for Shrivvy on the hour after higher division Abingdon had taken the lead mid-way through the first half.

Elsewhere, an injury-hit Malmesbury Vics outfit were narrowly defeated 3-2 by visitors Melksham Town.

Alan Webb cancelled out Melksham’s opener before the Conigre outfit went ahead for a second time.

Phil Corcoran levelled again for Malmesbury but Melksham then scored a third goal to take victory.

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