Swindon Supermarine secure crucial win in play-off chase at Hanwell Town

It was a massive Saturday for Swindon Supermarine as they took on their biggest challenge of the season and came home with three points.

Swindon were on the road again as they headed down to London to take on Hanwell Town away. Manager Lee Spalding was forced into changes from midweek when Liam Armstrong was recalled from his loan spell back to Gloucester City late int he day due to an injury there and with Josh Gould still out Marine were forced to turn to midfielder Brad Hooper to step up between the sticks.

Will Tunnicliff also missed out with a recurrence of a hamstring after returning in midweek and was replaced by top scorer Harry Williams back after his own hamstring injury which kept him out for over a month with Ryan Campbell dropping back. The final change saw a bit of solidity added to the middle of the pitch with George Dowling in for Joe Tumelty.

Hooper was forced into an early stop from Olurunfemi as a nervy Marine took to the field but they soon settled into the match and started to knock the ball around well.

From one of these excellent team moves James Harding was put through but slipped at the vital time and scuffed it wide. McKenzie then went close at the other end heading wide of the sticks.

Cole was booked for a late one on Turl in the 17th minute as Swindon started to really dominate proceedings. Williams headed just wide before a Dowling free kick was well held by Constable in the home goal.

Another free kick whipped in saw Williams go close with a header again with some appeals for a push in the back waved away. The pressure was building and the goal came in the 37th minute. Zack Kotwica timed his pass to perfection and Williams made no mistake running past the keeper and slipping the ball into the net for his 33rd of the season – 28 in the league.

With no further action in the half Swindon would have been delighted to limit the efforts on goal whilst taking an excellent one themselves but knew with the wind against them in the second half it would be backs to the wall.

MacKenzie saw yellow for a very late challenge on Jamie Edge before a very scary moment for Marine. A massive goal kick from Constable took a high bounce and went straight over Hooper’s head but thankfully wide of the posts!

Hanwell opted to make a change – McElroy replacing Cheshire but this did not have the desired effect and a minute later, on the hour Marine doubled their advantage and what a goal! A great team move and brilliant through ball from Dowling saw James Harding race away before unleashing a thunderbolt of an effort to leave Constable grasping thin air. That is 18 goals now for the hit man in just 17 starts.

Hanwell went on the attack after this and saw Supermarine putting bodies on the line to block three chances in a row – an immense effort from the whole back line to stop the shots.

But this was the Toon Army’s best spell of the game and they were not to be denied as Imran Kayani headed home from a deep cross to give Hooper no chance on 66. Hanwell were pushing hard to level but the move of the match saw Marine manoeuver a superb counter attack with Henry Spalding giving it the finish it deserved with a lovely curling effort into the corner to kill the Hanwell hopes with 20 minutes left to go – his 7th this campaign.

A raft of subs from both sides followed – Tumelty on for Williams after a great first shift back, Tom Sharpe returning after a while on the bench for the hard working Dowling and a late showing for Swindon Town loanee George Cowmeadow on for Henry Spalding.

But Marine saw out the game well with the only scare being a late free kick which soared over the bar. The final whistle saw rapturous scenes with all the players applauding Brad Hooper for his efforts at stepping up to the plate on the day. The onlooking Rail Union leader Mick Lynch would have been proud of the unity, solidarity and spirit shown by the Marine players.

So the play off push continues and with Poole Town to visit the Webbswood next Saturday it sets up the first of a series of massive home games.