Second-Half Response Lifts Hartpury to Win Over 10-man Swindon Supermarine

Goals from Noah Coates and Nathan Jenkins saw Hartpury come from behind to overcome a ten-man Swindon Supermarine on Saturday afternoon, writes Alfie Richmond.

With just one win in their last seven games, Hartpury were aiming to pick up some momentum during a busy festive period as they hosted a Swindon Supermarine side who sat just a point above The Acorns prior to kick-off.

It was the visitors who struck first, opening the scoring inside just seven minutes. Abu Gblar’s in-swinging cross clipped the head of Raphael Oppong and looped over the Hartpury keeper to give Marine an early lead.

But on 18 minutes the hosts were awarded a penalty. Christopher Manning’s chop wrong-footed Tawana Changa who left a leg out and caught the winger.

Billy Osborn stepped up — but Swindon keeper Luke Purnell got down well to deny the skipper and maintain their advantage.

Osborn looked to have made amends shortly after when he tucked home a Manning cross, but the celebrations were cut short when the referee ruled the finish out for handball.

Nine minutes remained of the first half when the referee made a controversial decision to dismiss Marine captain Sam Turl, following a strong 50/50 challenge that left Drew Robinson on the ground — a call that sparked uproar from the travelling support.

Hartpury were really knocking on the door following the sending off, with big chances from Robinson and Osborn going amiss moments before the break — but the away side held their own to go into half-time a goal to the good.

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Ten minutes into the second half, Hartpury got their equaliser. Some good work down the left-hand side from Vanlyson Silva saw his cross find the newly-introduced Tomas Shyamapant — who knocked it across to Noah Coates for a tap-in.

Marine’s fatigue was beginning to show when on 59 minutes Manning met an Osborn cross that was well stopped by Purnell.

Three minutes later, Gbla was denied by Seth Locke after his curled effort was pushed away by the Hartpury keeper.

Nathan Jenkins gave the hosts the advantage on 68 minutes when a headed clearance dropped to him on the edge of the area. He struck cleanly past Purnell to make it 2-1 to The Acorns.

Two stops from Purnell in quick succession denied the home side a third, the first of which coming from Jenkins before he tipped Robinson’s effort around the post with 12 minutes remaining.

Supermarine offered little in the second half as a result of Hartpury’s one-man advantage, and despite the hosts’ push for a third, Jenkins’ strike was enough to complete the comeback.

Hartpury are back at home on Tuesday night when they welcome Tavistock, before travelling to Bideford next Saturday. Swindon don’t play again until next weekend, hosting Westbury United before an away trip to Frome Town in a rescheduled fixture the following Wednesday.

Subs: Shyamapant (55’), Towns (80’), Sims (8’), Sanniola, Mathews (77’).

Subs: Alston (12’), Hemmings (70’), Efedje (70’), Williams (70’), Salifu (70’).

C Martin Roofing Man of the Match – Nathan Jenkins (Hartpury)