Boro 3 Swindon Supermarine 2

Match Report by Jamie Riley;

Nuneaton Borough came out victorious in their latest pre-season friendly, 3-2 , against a well drilled Swindon Supermarine side.

Boro were forced to come from behind twice against their impressive Southern League Premier Division South opponents.

Both sides showed signs of early promise with the home team coming close to breaking the deadlock on a number of occasions.

Shamsi shaved the post with little over three minutes on the clock.

Then, a well worked chance for Ryan Edmunds saw his powerful effort blaze over the bar.

Unfortunately for the hosts though it was the visitors who took the lead after 21 minutes .

Leigh Marshall followed up the rebound after Zack Kotwica‘s firm effort was well saved by Tony Breeden.

But it took less than ten minutes for Boro to respond and they were back on level terms in the
31st minute.

A corner for the Boro was only half cleared and Jamie Hood sent in a pin point cross which Edjenguele superbly headed into the top corner.

The home side failed to stay level going into the break however as a few minutes from half time Marine took the lead again.

Breeden, in the home goal, tried to collect a through ball but collided with the visitors striker giving the referee no choice but to point to the spot.

The subsequent spot-kick was calmly dispatched by Zack Kotwica who restored the visitors lead.

After the break Boro looked hungry for an equaliser with a lot of the play flowing through the busy Ravin Shamsi, but the hosts failed to find a second goal.

Supermarine thought they had extended their lead with a Harry Williams's close range strike but it was ruled out for offside.

Just minutes later the away side had another glorious chance to put the game to bed when Ryan Campbell was taken down as he was running clear on goal in the box.

But the visitors second penalty of the game didn’t go the way they had wanted as the Marine striker’s effort cleared the bar.

It felt as if the penalty miss was a wake up call for Boro.

Minutes later a corner fell to Edjenguele at the back post and he delicately curled the ball past Martin Horshell and into the top corner for his, and Boro’s, second of the game.

With the game even and going into the last stretch it felt as if it was anyones for the taking and
Ravin Shamsi made the difference in the 85th minute.

He picked up the ball from deep,turned his man and buried a vicious shot past the keeper to secure the win for the home side.

As the full-time whistle blew, both sides would have felt as if they had chances to settle the game.

However it was Boro who had taken their
chances, leaving Marine with a sense of what might have been.

BORO:
Breeden, Armsden (Trialist 46), Tomkinson, Hood, Edjenguele, Dias (Trialist 46), Cotton (Ruff 46), Kelly, Trialist (Kettle72), Shamsi, Edmunds.

Subs: Kettle, Goddard, Ruff, Lita, Benbow, R.Brown (gk), Trialist, Trialist, Trialist.