Dean strike seals win for Marine (From This Is Wiltshire)

SUPERMARINE ground out a 1-0 win at home to big-spending Hungerford in Division One South & West last night.

Rob Dean opened the scoring from close range minutes in and Marine looked the better side throughout the first half.

Captain Dave Bampton came off through illness midway through but otherwise it was all positive for the hosts, with Jamie Prictor and Danny Hilder going close to doubling the lead.

The Crusaders cleared off their line before Kent Kauppinen was eventually forced into action at the other end, blocking from Ben Pugh with the striker bearing down on him.

Dean nearly increased his personal tally but his flicked header from a corner was cleared off the line.

After the break Hilder almost made it 2-0, the first time just failing to squeeze under keeper Paul Strudley and then having a shot deflected to safety via defender and goalkeeper.

Matty Horsell somehow contrived to miss an open goal midway through the half after having the chance laid on a plate, but Marine were not made to pay.

Hungerford rarely threatened with their only on-target effort of note being when substitute Ryan Crockford stung the palms of Kauppinen from distance.

“I feel elation,” said Marine boss Dave Webb afterwards. “Especially after the disappointment of Saturday (against WImborne) where I didn’t think we performed to the level we’re capable of.

“It was a very inexperienced side, but the chances we created, the way we played against them and limited their chances I was over the moon with. It’s a great three points.”

Elsewhere last night, Shrivenham lost 2-1 in the Hellenic Premier despite a first-half stunner from Josh Fowler, while a reserves-heavy Highworth XI were knocked out of the FA Vase by Calne in the teams’ replay.

Talif Hamza and Craig Whitbread netted for the visitors as normal time ended 2-2, before the Bremhill View hosts went on to score twice more.

Highworth manager John Fisher said: “For the last 10 minutes of normal time we battered them, so it was disappointing not to win, but the young lads who came in fro the reserves did well.”