A MAX Etheridge double gave Supermarine a huge boost in their fight for Southern Premier survival, as they shocked play-off chasers Stourbridge 2-1.

Etheridge netted twice in the first period and although Leon Broadhurst pulled one back late on, Marine held on for three precious points.

The hosts took the lead midway through the first half when after retaining possession well in midfield, Ben Wells struck a low drive from range and the goalkeeper was only able to parry into the path of Bradley Gray, and he squared for strike partner Etheridge to tap into the net.

The advantage was doubled seconds before the break, when wide man Nick Stanley floated in a teasing free kick and Etheridge rose highest to nod into the bottom corner.

Stourbridge went down to 10 men shortly after the resumption when Kyle Lapham was on the receiving end of an elbow and then a kick, giving the well-placed referee no option but to show the red card to the visiting player.

Despite this, the Glassboys threw caution to the wind and did eventually pull one back in the 83rd minute through Broadhurst, but it was not enough.

Supermarine are now on 40 points, just two points from safety, and although they are still in major trouble, Gary Horgan and Matt Robinson’s men are in a vastly improved position to a month ago.

“It was a good result, we knew we had a number of tricky games left, this being one of them and we’ve got a number of points we need to get,” said Horgan.

“We were delighted to move a little bit closer to that but we’ve got a lot of work still to do.

“I think even 46 might not be enough, I think we might need 47 or 48, but we’ll just have to see. Two more wins might be enough, but that could be difficult given our goal difference.”

The joint boss felt that his team fully deserved the three points against Stourbridge, who stunned League Two Plymouth in the FA Cup earlier this season.

“Early on they had a spell of 10 minutes where they forced a couple of corners, but we weathered that and I think we were the better side in the first half,” added Horgan.

“That was proven by the fact we went in 2-0 up and it could have been more. They were two good goals and there was another couple of good saves by their keeper, while ours didn’t really have to make a save.

“The second half fizzled out really, it’s a bit of a cliche but the sending off changed the game for us. For whatever reason they became a bit more difficult to play against and we began to sat deep.

“They stuck three up front to try and change things, but our keeper still didn’t have a save to make in the second half and their goal came out of nothing.”

  • SUPERMARINE joint boss Gary Horgan says he is paying no attention to Chippenham’s recent run of form ahead of the teams’ Southern Premier clash today.

Chippenham have won just one of their last 16 games and have slipped well out of contention for the play-off places since Christmas.

And while admitting his shock that Adie Mings’ men have struggled so much for form since the start of 2012, Horgan said today’s derby at Hardenhuish Park would be anything but easy.

“I have to admit it’s a surprise, because he (Mings) has done a great job there,” said Horgan.

“This year on paper I thought he had a good side, one of his best, but they have had a wretched run with injuries and a goalkeeper situation that I can sympathise with.

“We don’t read too much into their run of form having been in that situation ourselves where we haven’t got the rub of the green for quite a few games.

“Sometimes it can work like that, but I’m expecting a difficult game because they are a good side.

“I know Adie well and how he sets his teams up. He always has teams that give 100 per cent and he doesn’t expect anything less than that.”

Marine have no new injury worries ahead of this afternoon’s game, but fatigue from Saturday’s match could see Horgan and fellow joint boss Matt Robinson shuffle the pack.

Chippenham will hope to build on a 1-1 draw at high-flying Totton, when a 54th-minute Alan Griffin effort was cancelled out late on by Ross Bottomley.

Cirencester, meanwhile, face the almost meaningless task of a fixture at Evesham, having had their relegation confirmed at the weekend.

The Centurions lost 1-0 to Bashley as Josh Casey condemned them to defeat in the 22th minute, meaning it is now mathematically impossible for them to avoid the drop.

But the fundamental issue now at the Corinium is whether the hierarchy decide to take the first-team down to the Hellenic League, in order to reduce costs and make the club more sustainable, as chairman Steve Abbley suggested could be the case last week.