Marine planning to ‘Stamp’ out Bristol Manor Farm

Supermarine face arguably their biggest game of the season this Saturday as they travel west to take on third in the table Bristol Manor Farm.

Weather permitting, under the guidance of Caretaker Boss Lee Spalding, Marine head down the M4 desperate for a win to catapult them back up into the promotion pack having fallen down to tenth in the standings in recent weeks due to a combination of postponed fixtures and inconsistent form which has seem them o earn only 6 points from 6 games, resulting in the departure of long serving Manager Dave Webb recently.

Last season’s Toolstation Western League Champions Bristol Manor Farm have remained amongst the front runners for promotion all season and have lost only twice at their home ground, ‘The Creek’, in 13 games (winning 7 and drawing 4) but have played two games more than Marine.

With AFC Totton defeating Barnstaple away 3-0 in midweek, pushing Marine one place lower in the standings, Marine find themselves 4 points fewer than their opponents.

Last weekend, whilst Marine’s home fixture with Yate Town was called off, Manor Farm were beaten away at in-form Didcot Town by 2-0.

Spalding’s squad need to get back to winning ways, having not played since their battling 3-3 draw at fellow promotion hopefuls Evesham on Wednesday 17th January and have not tasted victory in the league since their dominant 4-0 defeat of Cinderford Town at The Webbs Wood Stadium back on Saturday 23rd December.

The two sides met back on Saturday 4th November, when a Joe Selman deflected shot game the hosts a 1-0 win in a tight, scrappy game with few goal scoring opportunities.

Saturday’s encounter will bring together two of the league’s leading marksmen with both Bristol’s Dean Stamp and Marine’s Josh Parsons equal on 18 goals for the season. Stamp, the former Exeter City youngster who counts Truro City, Weymouth and Taunton Town amongst previous clubs will clearly need to be shackled, but team mates Jordan Metters (10) and Troy Simpson (12) will also provide attacking options for the home side.

Speaking ahead of the game, Caretaker Boss Lee Spalding, though disappointed in two postponements in the past week, has also recognised the positives from a lack of action, “ It’s been frustrating and would have been nice to have played on Tuesday night (Slimbridge) With three or four players coming back from injury the players were given the evening off with the proviso they were to make sure they attended training on Thursday night. Aaron Woodley could now play a part on Saturday if he comes through Thursday night and Ryan Campbell will also hopefully be involved if he gets the okay from our physio.”

When asked how he plans to deal with Manor Farm’s dangerman Stamp, Spalding replied, “Manor Farm aren’t a one-man team. We’re in for a really tough game and we have got to defend well if we are to get a result.”

Source Your Sport Swindon