Match Review
Monday 10th August 2026
Pitching In Southern League
Division 1 (South)
Swindon Supermarine vs Shaftesbury
‘Peaks and troughs ‘
By Avril Lancaster
Rhomey Ashby Hammond made an encouraging debut despite defeat to Bishops Cleeve on Saturday.
Despite the disappointment of losing to a ten man Bishops Cleeve on Saturday Josh Staunton has a day to pick his charges up and once again we go to Swindon Supermarine on a Monday night. Personally I am not a fan of Monday night football and i guess it’s done to avoid clashing with the local EFL club. Wednesday’s are better!
I don’t think the players did too much wrong on Saturday and credit must go to the opposition for playing like they did for 90+3 minutes after Jamal Lawerence was dismissed after only a minute. There were some good performances with Cameron Murray breaking up Cleeve attacks Louis Sweeten and substitute Ollie Hughes certainly showed a lot of skill, creativity and endeavour.
Saturday kind of reminded me off the opening Wessex League Premier Division fixture in August 2022 when we lost 2-1 to an Alresford Town side after the heights of winning the Wessex League Cup in the 2021/22 season. Alresford Town did not win another game that season relegated on only 4 points. I can’t imagine that would be the case for Bishops Cleeve though! First day of the season is an odd one. Win or lose it doesn’t really tell you anything.
No doubt Staunton will run the why’s and where for’s about in his mind as any manager will do. Though my take on it would be to redirect thoughts away from football for Sunday. A meal at the pub with the family, a walk across the hills with the dog, maybe even read a book.
Swindon Supermarine will be what it is. It was a hurly burly affair in early March when we were battered 3-1 on a night where Alefe Santos superb free kick was the only bright spot on a disappointing night. They will very much fancy themselves on their own turf at the Imagine Cruising Stadium. Sal Abubakar giving our defence a difficult night.
Supermarine dispensed Tuffley Rovers 3-1 on Saturday in the Emirates FA Cup Extra Preliminary Round with 18 year old Lucas Wilkinson acoring a debut goal along with Dan Warre and Conor McDonagh on the mark to defeat the Uhlsport Hellenic League Premier Division side. Warre of course the former Didcot Town forward scoring one of the goals of the season in August 2025.
Previous Meetings
2025/26
25/08/25 (H) W 3-1 Baker (2), Burbidge
02/03/26 (A) L 1-3 Santos DAbadia
Pld 2 Won 1 Drawn 0 Lost 1 F 4 A 4 GD +0
Pts (3/6 available)
Charlie Rayfield was a consistent performer last season after returning to the club from Bemerton Heath Harlequins in July 2025.
Paul Collicut’s side have had a similar pre season run into us in that they have faced a mixture of sides and focused more on plsyer developments and trialist opportunities. Of course we are fresh from defeating Chippenham Town 2-1 and the ‘Mitres ‘ had a stunning 2-0 win over Hereford FC in their pre season schdule.
Jamal Lawerence was on target in the 1-1 draw at Pitching In Southern League Premier Division South Evesham United last Friday. The former Melksham Town striker certainly is known to us having scored twice against us. Ross Langworthy as ever is the talisman up front and players such as Matt Liddiard have also been key in the clubs recent success since returning to the Southern League from the Hellenic League as Premier Division Champions in 2021/22.
Shaftesbury manager Josh Staunton and assistant Steve Rutter will be pleased with the progress of Dawid Regula since arriving at the club in the summer to replace Toby Holmes who left for Weymouth FC. The former Larkhall Athletic poacher will be known to the Cleeve backline much in the same fashion Lawerence is to us.
Louis Sweeten signing from Bath City and Cameron Murray from Dorchester Town are signings that Staunton identified to support the talents of Alefe Santos DAbadia, the work ethic of Jack Hoey and creativity of Harry Baker, Tom Hewlett and Harry Morgan. Brandon Mundy is another mainstay though a nasty fall against Chippenham Town saw him stretchered of and no doubt very familiar with ice packs this week. Jim Ward as ever remains consistent in his performances.
Blake Watts from Yeovil Town is a young man who at this time in his career needs the challenge of Step 4 football and to foster a partnership with Sonny Pike and Charlie Rayfield. Staunton looking at the goals we conceeded ratio last season as rather concerning despite being runners up in the play off final. Both Staunton and Rutter both experienced National League/Conference defenders in their careers certainly know about defending.
So, you have two great progressive teams ready to go at it on Saturday with both clubs looking to continue to stay around the top places despite four big clubs all being relegated into the division with Winchester City moved out to the Isthmian League South Central Division 1 and Didcot Town over to the Pitching In Southern League Division 1 (Central).
Whatever happens (you know what the first day of the season is like) it sure will be a great game and hopefully another great season for both clubs on and off the field.
Previous Meetings vs Bishops Cleeve
2024/25
Home L 0-3
Away L 1-3 Holmes
25/26
A L 2-3 Holmes, Hewlett
H W 3-0 Bradbury (2), Morgan
Pld 4 Won 1 Drawn 0 Lost 3 F 6 A 9
Pts aggregate (3/12) GD – 3