Royal Marines FA retain the Inter Commands 2010

RMFA President Maj Gen Garry Robison presents the 2010 Inter Commands trophy to Sgt Adam Fowler who lifted the trophy with the banned skiipper Cpl Davie Carns

When 45Cdo RM won the Navy cup back in March it was left to the RMFA to ensure a clean sweep of the Royal Navy’s football silverware for a second successive season with victory in the 2010 Inter Command competition after FPGRM & the RMFA won the Navy cup & Inter Commands respectively in 2009. A successful tour to USA in June & pre season fixtures against Taunton Town & Exmouth Town ensured we went into the tournament at Portsmouth full of optimism.

Despite being without the 40Cdo contingent of Cpl Bochenski, Cpl Atiba, Mne Hill, Mne Hebditch & Mne Rickard due to Op Herrick & also the last minute withdrawal of centre half BCpl Obrien (Plym Band) the main concern was the lack of a recognised goal keeper with Cpls Dickson & Murphy both 45Cdo RM unavailable & Mne Ashford-Brown (CHF) deployed. My new assistant manager WO1 Shaun Welburn (CHF) who replaced CSgt Ian Clark (45Cdo RM) in July franticly phoned around in the hope of unearthing a cat but to no avail. In the end we realised the answer lay within the RM football community in the shape of WO2 Robbie Buglass (RM Poole) who had took up refereeing and was due to officiate at the Inter Commands. The one time Corps centre forward who won the Inter Commands way back in 1995 jumped at the chance to come out of playing retirement & take his RMFA appearance total to 59

WO2 Robbie Buglass answered an sos call to go in goal for the Royal Marines

The Team v Naval Air Command WO2 Buglass (RM Poole), Sgt Adam Fowler (CTCRM), Cpl Davie Carns (Captain) (30Cdo), Mne Scott Sampson (42Cdo), Mne Wade Dysart (45Cdo), LCpl Shea Saunders (30Cdo), Mne Lee Hildreth (42Cdo), Mne Dan Fox (CTCRM), Mne Stu Morgan (42Cdo), Mne Mikey Husbands (CTCRM), LCpl Mark Connet (Ports Band) Subs Sgt Richard Griffin (CTCRM), CSgt Richie Hope (CTCRM), Cpl Wayne Shailer (30Cdo) Subs not used Mne Matty Platten (Cdo Log Regt), Mne martin Finneron (Cdo Log Regt). 

The Second match on Tuesday 28^th Sept saw us come up against Plymouth Command & the last time we played them we won 10-0 in 2006. Plymouth had beaten Naval Air 3-2 the day before and all that stood in their way of making the final was the Royal Marines. Their dreams were quickly put back to bed as the game went a similar way to the one in 2006 as we dominated the game and ran out 8-1 victors with goals from Finneron 2, Connet, Husbands, Saunders, Hope, Morgan & Fowler.

The Team v Plymouth Command  WO2 Robbie Buglass (RM Poole), Sgt Adam Fowler (Captain) (CTCRM), Cpl Wayne Shailer (30Cdo), Mne Scott Sampson (42Cdo), Mne Wade Dysart (45Cdo), Mne Finneron (Cdo Log Regt), Mne Matty Platten (Cdo Log Regt), Mne Dan Fox (CTCRM), Mne Stu Morgan (42Cdo), CSgt Richie Hope (CTCRM), LCpl Mark Connet (Ports Band) Subs LCpl Shea Saunders (30Cdo), Mne Mikey Husbands (CTCRM), Mne Lee Hildreth (42Cdo) Subs not used Sgt Richard Griffin (CTCRM), banned Cpl Davie Carns (30Cdo) 

The final saw us come up against Portsmouth Command who we beat 3-2 AET last year. Portsmouth had lost the last 3 Inter Command finals and we were intent in prolonging their misery and extending it for a fourth year.

Our President Major General Garry Robison RM was in attendance for his last fixture before handing over to Brigadier Ged Salzano MBE and we all wanted to give him the send off his services to RM Football truly deserved. Our Assistant Chairman Capt Stevie Marr & RMSA Sec WO2 Chris Richards were also in the crowd hoping for a RM victory. The game got under way & took on a similar pattern to last years final were we dominated the early possession but fell behind when Portsmouth took the lead from the penalty spot through AET Dan Cummins after the offence was committed in exactly the same position & time as last year, that time Mne Martin Finneron was the culprit but this time it was Mne Wade Dysart who committed the offence. Despite this set back we continued to play the neat passing game that had served us well all season but our lack of accuracy in the final third meant we went into the break 1-0 down.

 After a few words in the changing room from myself & WO1 Shaun Welburn the team was all in agreement that we were the better team and if we just found that killer touch in the final third we would come out on top come the final whistle. We made one tactical substitution at half time with the left footed Mne Finneron coming on at left midfield for the right footed LCpl Stuart Morgan. This change gave us a more balanced formation & we continued to search for an equaliser. It eventually came when former Aston Villa striker Michael Husbands lashed home from inside the penalty box much to the joy & relief of the whole squad.

Striker Mne Mikey Husbands is mobbed after scoring the equaliser against Portsmouth

We had talked before the game about the Aerial threat of Portsmouth & in particular from Portsmouth skipper POET Phil Archibald from set pieces but to our relief & amazement they persisted with short corners & when they had free kicks they rarely put the ball into the mixer to test Robbie Buglass who they knew was not a recognised goal keeper. The back four of Sgt Ads Fowler, Cpl Wayne Shailer, Mne’s Scott Sampson & Wade Dysart stood firm at the back. Mne’s Dan Fox & Lee Hildreth worked tirelessly in the centre of midfield breaking down the Portsmouth play and feeding the flank men of Mne Martin Finneron & LCpl Shea Saunders. The constant threat posed up front from Royal Navy players LCpl Mark Connet & Mne Mikey Husbands meant Portsmouth could not switch off for one second. 

After a sustained spell of pressure in the Portsmouth penalty area the ball was eventually cleared out of the box to former Coventry City player Lee Hildreth who from 25yds out drilled in a powerful low shot through a crowded penalty area to beat Royal Navy goal keeper LPT Matt Short & put the Royal Marine in front for the first time & he was duly mobbed by the rest of the players. Richie Hope & Matty Platten came on for Saunders & Connet respectively. The Corps team defended their lead like their lives depended on it and none more so than Mne Lee Hildreth who threw his body on the line on numerous occasions in the closing stages to stifle the Portsmouth attack. Mass jubilations started when referee PO Jackie McNamara blew the final whistle and Royal had retained the Inter Commands & along with 45Cdo RM had secured the double.

The team v Portsmouth Command WO2 Robbie Buglass (RM Poole), Sgt Adam Fowler (Captain) (CTCRM), Cpl Wayne Shailer (30Cdo), Mne Scott Sampson (42Cdo), Mne Wade Dysart (45Cdo), LCpl Stu Morgan (42Cdo), Mne Lee Hildreth (42Cdo), Mne Dan Fox (CTCRM), Mne Shea Saunders (30Cdo), Mne Mikey Husbands (CTCRM), LCpl Mark Connet (Ports Band) Subs Mne Martin Finneron (Cdo Log Regt), Mne Matty Platten (Cdo Log Regt), CSgt Richard Hope(CTCRM) Subs not used Sgt Richard Griffin (CTCRM), Sgt Rich Harley (CTCRM) banned Cpl Davie Carns (30Cdo)    

2010 Inter Commands Winners Royal Marines FA Standing L to R Shaun Welburn (Assistant Manager), Davie Carns,Scott Sampson,Lee Hildreth,Martin Finneron,Capt Steve Marr (Assistant Chairman), Maj Gen Garry Robison (President), Stu Morgan,Mikey Husbands,Wayne Shailer,Richard Griffin,Jase Kilner (Kitman),Shaun Foster (Manager),Rich Harley. Kneeling L to R Wade Dysart,Matty Platten,Mark Connet,Richie Hope,Ads Fowler (Capt),Robbie Buglass,Dan Fox,Shea Saunders.