Emms and Davies see red in win (From The Wiltshire Gazette and Herald)

Emms and Davies see red in win

Roger EmmsMARK Collier was full of praise for his battling Supermarine side after grinding out the grittiest of 1-0 wins at Rushall Olympic but victory came at a price.

Marine powerhouses Steve Davies and Roger Emms were both sent off within five manic minutes midway through the second half.

The nine remaining men doggedly defended the lead handed to them by Giles Harris, but suspensions to the two influential offenders could prove costly at a later date.

Said Collier: "It was a difficult place to go anyway. Rushall are very physical so to lose our two players with the most physical presence made it doubly difficult.

"All credit to the nine left on, they did fantastically and were throwing themselves in front of everything.

"But losing the two lads through suspension will be a blow. I've spoken to both of them afterwards and warned them about their future conduct.

"They're both experienced players and should know better than that."

Emms saw a straight red for standing on Rushall goalkeeper Chris Gemmell.

Davies swiftly followed for a second booking after kicking the ball away.

Marine had earlier broken the deadlock with a goal that owed as much to luck as it did persistence. Harris showed great determination to chase a seemingly lost cause, forcing Gemmell into a hurried clearance which hit the Marine midfielder and rebounded into the net.

The visitors had earlier gone close through Ricky Hulbert's header while Marcus Jackson blasted over Rushall's best chance.

Tom King was forced to save from Leon Allen early in the second period before Davies collected his first booking for tangling with the same player.

Emms was then given his marching orders for the second time in three weeks followed by Davies, and Marine were left clinging on for dear life with 25 minutes still to play.

Rushall went all-out-attack and twice had shots cleared off the line by Danny Allen and Steve Jenkins.

King then made inspired saves to deny Dave Read consecutive chances as Marine held on to move up to fourth in Division One West of the Southern League.

RICKY Hulbert has extended his loan stay at Supermarine from Bath City for another month.