Dorchester Town 3-4 Swindon Supermarine

A match report by Swindon Supermarine correspondent Aleck Everard

Swindon Supermarine resumed the season with their first match for three weeks due to the weather by taking on a tough trip to play off chasing Dorchester Town. 

Manager Lee Spalding opted for an unchanged team to that which saw off Salisbury last time out with Ty Duffus returning to the bench after injury and George Dowling missing out with a hamstring injury.

An early effort from Emmerson saw keeper Josh Gould extended early on to push the effort wide but it was Marine who settled the best on the artificial turf. Joe Tumelty earned a free kick but his effort was high wide and not so handsome. 

Will Tunnicliff got on the end of a corner on seven minutes but put the header just wide. A minute later it should have been one-nil Marine when Henry Spalding laid it on a plate for top scorer Harry Williams, but he sliced the effort wide of goal.

With 14 minutes on the clock there was a major turning point in the game as Magpies forward Harvey Bradbury saw red after a coming together with Sam Turl resulting in the forward man flicking out a boot on the Marine full back, leaving the referee with no choice but to dismiss him. 

With the home crowd now baying for a card with every tackle, Brad Hooper soon saw himself yellow carded for a foul, quickly followed by Gould going into the notebook too after he came out of the box and brought down the lively Gwenge, but with covering defenders and the ball moving away from goal it was only ever going to be a yellow for the big stopper.

But relief was short lived as from the free kick Neale floated it over to Emmerson who whacked home emphatically to give the 10 men a shock lead with 22 minutes gone.

Emmerson was in the thick of the action and after another foul on Turl he appeared to stamp on the Marine full back, with Tumelty reacting by pushing the big defender. Both men received yellow but Emmerson can consider himself lucky not to have seen red too.

Despite numerical advantage Swindon struggled to get going with the nearest chance in the first half being a deflected header from Hooper going wide.

A few tactical tweaks from Spalding saw Marine take on a more attacking gait in the second period but Gwengwe continued to cause issues with his pace up top and Jamie Edge became the latest to see yellow after bringing the winger down on a break.

But finally Marine started to put some good attacks together and six minutes into the second period they levelled the scores. A cross to the back post saw Ryan Campbell rise well to head it back to Tumelty who nudged it on to Harry Williams. 

His quick swivel and shot made it 27 for the season for the striker.

With the Magpies starting to flounder Conor McDonagh boosted the front line coming on for Brad Hooper as Lee Spalding went all out for the win. And it made an instant impact as McDonagh almost gave Marine the lead with his first touch. A good shot well saved by keeper Ryan Hall. 

Swindon didn’t have to wait long though to get in front. Just a minute later the a cross was cleared out to Jamie Edge whose effort took a flick in front of goal (was it Williams???) and ended up in the net for 2-1!

But the hosts weren’t giving up and responded in kind. First Gould did well to block a chance before the next attack saw Gwenge break through the back line as Gould slipped coming off his line and the winger finished into the top corner to make it 2-2 with still 30 minutes to play. 

Foot replaced Stanley for the hosts first change and on 62 minutes it was Marine’s turn to take the initiative once more.

Henry Spalding broke away down the right and with a dagger-like finish at the near post netted his fifth goal of the season and second in two games. 

Three-two Marine. A long range effort from Tunnicliff was superbly turned away by Hall as Swindon looked to seal the points. Williams broke clear on 73 and should have made it safe but Hall once again made a top save to deny him. 

Zack Kotwica replaced Spalding with 15 left to go whilst Dorchester brought on Alex Moyse and Louie Slough for Matt Neale and Jordan Ngalo.

The two subs met when Slough was booked for hacking down Kotwica, and with five minutes left on the clock it appeared to finally be game over as Conor McDonagh found space just inside the box and his effort looped off a defender to make it four-two – seven for the season now for Conor.

But once again Dorchester never gave up – Harding replaced Williams with two minutes left and with 90 on the clock Gould was adjudged to have brought down Gwengwe for a penalty kick. 

It looked harsh and the keeper was happy to not see yellow again and then even happier when the penalty rebounded off the bar despite being well struck.

The hosts went all out piling their defender up top and one of them – Douglas made it a grandstand finish after netting a chance after Gould appeared to be fouled taking a goal kick and ended up scuffing it straight to the Dorchester player. Four-three Marine and the action wasn’t over yet. 

With five minutes added and time running out another lively break from Dorchester saw the ball played across the six yard line and Sa had the simplest of tap ins for the leveller. 

Thankfully to the relief of the Swindon team he blazed the chance over and the game was won!

It had been a simply mad second half – probably down to the lack of games for both sides in the last months – and also down to a lively atmosphere and never say die attitude of the home team.

It had been without doubt a simply crazy 90 minutes of football that had it all. I am sure anyone who attended thoroughly enjoyed their afternoon regardless of the result.

For Swindon it was the delight of another three points in the bag as they chase the playoffs hopes and a third win of the season over the Magpies.

Next up midweek Wiltshire Premier Shield action at Westbury (we hope!) before the big home game against league leaders Weston Super Mare next Saturday.

Fans man of the match – Ryan Campbell – immense once more