Taunton Town 1 v Royal Marines FA 2
Armed Forces Charity Day in support of Help for Heroes
Saturday 24th July 2010
Match Report by Cpl Shaun Foster RMFA Manager
The RMFA squad arrived at Taunton Town football club which was a hive of activity for the Armed Forces Charity Day. This all day event ensured a large crowd for the main event of Taunton Town v Royal Marines. The RM team started very well and could of took an early lead after only two minutes when CSgt Richie Hope (CTCRM) headed a LCpl Dan Boere (ASC) corner straight at the Taunton Town goal keeper. The hosts immediately went up the other end and had a half chance of their own but saw an headed effort flash wide of Mne James Ashford-Browns (CHF) goal.
The lively Mne Christian Brooks-Courtney (45Cdo) had two long range efforts at goal after being set up by Mne’s Mark Conett (Portsmouth) & Martin Finneron (Cdo Log Regt).
Goal 20th minute - The Royal Marines took a deserved lead on 20 minutes when the Taunton Town goal keeper spilled a Dan Boere free kick for a corner which eventually led to a second corner which was also spilled by the goal keeper and debutant centre half Mne Scott Sampson (42Cdo) poked home to crown a great debut.
The RM team continued to pile on the pressure with man of the match Mne KT Tunstall (FPGRM), Dan Boere, Mne Martin Finneron & Mne Christian Brooks-Courtney dominating the midfield, and the lively pairing of Richie Hope and Mark Conett causing all sorts of chaos in the Taunton Town defence with their movement & quick link up play.
The Corps team kept on dominating the game for the rest of the first half and whenever Taunton Town got the ball into the front runners they were snuffed out by Skipper Cpl Davie Carns superbly marshalled defence of Scott Sampson, LCpl Anthony Newton (Cdo Log Reg) & Mne Wade Dysart (45Cdo), they were helped out by goal keeper James Ashford-Brown who despite not having much to do in terms of saves his vocal communication helped out his defence on numerous occasions. Christian Brooks-Courtney continued to be a threat down the right flank and after nut megging his opponent he delivered a cross into the box which led to yet another Dan Boere corner has the RM team plied on the pressure. Taunton Town capitalised on a James Ashford-Brown miss kick to force a corner which Richie Hope did well to head clear despite being under pressure from a Taunton striker who must have thought he had a clear header at goal. Back at the other end and good work from Hope & Courtney led to Mark Conett shooting wide of the near post. Next to try his luck at goal was Martin Finneron who attempted an audacious chip from 35yds out but the goal keeper was already on his line and comfortably gathered the ball. Anthony Newton & KT Tunstall then combined to set Finneron again but his shot went wide.
Another corner from Boere eventually fell to Davie Carns who thought he was going to score only to see the ball blaze over the bar from close range.
Half Time Taunton Town 0 Royal Marines 1 (Sampson)
Not a lot was said at the interval by the RMFA management of Cpl Shaun Foster & WO1 Sean Welburn other than keep playing the same way as the first half and at only 1 nil up we can’t get complacent.
Taunton Town on the other hand had a stern talking too and came out for the restart fired up, they changed their tactics and were more physical giving away several free kicks and disrupting the RM’s free flowing football. This tactic worked well for the hosts as they were on top for the first ten minutes of the second half and had efforts at goal blocked by Martin Finneron & Davie Carns. The Royal Marines reacted well to this spell and regained control of the game with Christian Courtney having his shot blocked after a good cross from Finneron. At the other end a clash between goal keeper Ashford-Brown and a Taunton striker saw an effort at goal but Ant Newton was on hand to clear the ensuing goal mouth scramble.
Goal 66th minute A long range pass from Dan Boere to Ant Newton on the wing saw the right back deliver a cross into the box and KT Tunstall met it perfectly to head home and finish off a great move to make the score line 2-0. A couple of corners for the RM side saw them pile on more pressure and when the Taunton goal keeper flapped at the second corner a one two involving Mark Conett & KT Tunstall led to Christian Courtney meeting the ball on the volley & blasting his shot against a Taunton defender.
Two substitutions for the Corps saw Mne Matty Platten (FPGRM) replace Finneron & Mne Grant Polson (42Cdo) replace Newton. Matty Platten nearly made the perfect start when his left wing cross was met by Christian Courtney but his weak header went wide.
With Taunton Town now pressing hard to get back into the game the Corps team who although working extremely hard started to resort to the long ball game and were giving the ball away too cheaply, as a result of this Taunton had a long range shot saved by Ashford-Brown and then they nearly capitalised on a Scott Sampson pass that was intercepted but Sampson made up for the error by making a good tackle to retrieve possession. Taunton nearly scored from a corner late on but a for a goal line clearance from Wade Dysart.
Goal 89th minute Taunton Town eventually got a last minute consolation goal after a foul from Matty Platten on the right hand edge of the box saw the resulting free kick crossed into the box and Taunton Town central defender Chris McGrath poked home from the resulting goal mouth scramble.
Taunton then had the final kick of the game when they blazed over the bar from a right wing cross.
Final score Taunton Town 1 (Chris McGrath) Royal Marines 2 (Scott Sampson, KT Tunstall).
Team Line up
1. James Ashford-Brown (CHF)
2. Ant Newton 4. Scott Sampson 5. Davie Carns (Capt) 3. Wade Dysart
6. Christian Courtney 7. Dan Boere 8. Chris Tunstall 11. Martin Finneron
9. Richard Hope 10. Mark Conett
Subs 12. Grant Polson for Newton 14. Matty Platten for Finneron
Staff Manager Shaun Foster, Assistant Manager Sean Welburn, Assistant Chairman Stevie Marr, Secretary Ian Mulholland, Physio Shaun Hayes, Kitman Jason Kilner.
