Even the most loyal Dolphin fans could not have expected to return home with anything from the trip to Merthyr last Saturday. With the Martyrs needing the win to claim the league title and promotion to the National League South an expectant home crowd in excess of 2000 gathered for what they hoped would be the day that promotion was confirmed. What they did not expect was a totally committed and well-organised attacking performance from a club fighting for their league survival. To be the first team this season to come away with all three points was truly incredible.

That win sets us up nicely for the final three games, Swindon Supermarine and Chertsey at The BlackGold and the Bank Holiday Monday trip to the Avenue Stadium to take on Dorchester Town.

Swindon needed a 90^th minute winner to get past relegation threatened Frome last Saturday. With the game looking very much like ending in a stalemate Harry Williams took advantage of a defensive lapse and slotted home the winner. That win puts Marine just one point and one place above us in 16^th (P39 W12 D8 L19 44 points) and still not safe from relegation themselves. Marine have won five matches away from home picking up a total of 16 points on their travels. They have dropped to 17^th place in the form table with one win and a draw from the last five fixtures.

There is no doubt that both teams will be desperate for the points from this match as Swindon face two of the play-off sides, Gloucester City (H) and Walton & Hersham (A) in their final two games.

We put Swindon out of this year’s FA Cup at the first-round stage in early September. We drew 1-1 at the Webbswood Stadium and won the replay at The BlackGold 2-0. It then came as a bit of a shock to return to the Webbswood a few days later and see our defence concede four second half goals in a 5-0 defeat. Up to this match we had let in only three goals in the previous seven matches.

The Swindon manager is the very experienced Stuart Fleetwood who played for a whole host of non-league clubs and has now turned his attention to coaching. He began his coaching career with Yate before joining Gloucester City in 2022/23. He was appointed Head Coach at Marine in September 2023 and led the team to Premier South survival.

With six teams battling to keep clear of the three remaining relegation places it looks like going right to the last day of the season. After that amazing win on Saturday, we have given ourselves a great chance of pulling clear, but we know that there is still much to do to retain our place in this league. We could be looking for vital points from our last home game of the season against Chertsey Town.

I think for most of us the highlight of the win last Saturday was to see the emotional interview that Connor did, on the Penydarren pitch, with Chris Reeves and Andy Rossiter. To see Chris smiling from ear to ear after all he has been through was truly heartwarming. He has done so much for this club, if anyone deserved that momentous day in Wales it was surely Chris. It is clear to see that Pat and Joe have made a huge impact on our team and we must believe that we can now secure those last 3 or 4 points needed for safety.

Let’s keep this fantastic support going right to the end, it is greatly appreciated.

Enjoy the game

Neil Wellington