Marlow Football Club
After beating Raynes Park 1-0 in the first round, Marlow travelled to Westfield Football Club, Woking, in the Isuzu FA Trophy Second Qualifying Round on Saturday 23rd September in what would be a closely fought game.
The sides last met in the Trophy two years ago at Marlow where the home side triumphed in an entertaining 4-3 affair. There was optimism that the result could be replicated this time round in the 3pm kick off.
Westfield welcomed back prolific goal scoring forward Bradley (Marlon) Walsh after stint at fellow Isthmian League South Central side Uxbridge. Walsh donned the number ten shirt and was to lead the line for an in- form Westfield side.
Westfield were forced into an early change as the injured Quincy Rowe was replaced by Alfie Huckle early in the first half.
Mayowa Adaje scored just before the half time interval to put Westfield 1-0 to the good.
Marlow responded well after the break and their constant threat to the final third led to numerous chances. Target man, Rogalski, levelled the score with a well-taken goal (74”). With less that 15 minutes to play and extra time beckoning, Marlow had chances but ultimately an 87th minute Jake Baxter goal extinguished any hope of a Marlow fight back. Final score Westfield 2, Marlow 1.
Upcoming fixture: Guernsey FC vs Marlow FC Isthmian League – South Central.
Date: 30/09/2023
Kick off: 2pm
Guernsey FC, Footes Lane Stadium, Footes Lane
St Peter Port, Guernsey, GY1 2UL
Marlow Hockey Club
Women’s results:
Marlow women’s 1st team travelled to Southampton for their first league game of the season and deserved to be in the spotlight with an emphatic win. Pre-season saw Marlow acquire a host of new talent and a new assistant coach – Chris Kilminster. Marlow gelled almost immediately and took the game to Southampton. They started strongly with an early attacking chance for Vic Allen who narrowly missed the goal. Despite an early green card for Helen Windsor, Marlow continued to press the Southampton goal and were rewarded when Martha Goodridge opened the scoring in the 13th minute. Windsor doubled Marlow’s lead in the 27th minute with a goal from open play. The Marlow defence had to be aware of Southampton’s counter-attacking threat and were up to the challenge with some great composure from new additions to the team: Ellie Lane, Evie White and Maddy Hill.
Marlow continued to dominate in the second half. Captain Beth Halbard finished superbly just two minutes off the start of the second half. Summer signing Lauren Hilditch increased Marlow’s lead to 4 after some tireless running in attack. Vic Allen finally earned her place on the scoresheet in the 52nd minute and scored again nine minutes later after continued pressure on the Southampton defence. Goodridge, who opened the scoring, scored the final goal in the dying seconds of the game to leave the score 7-0 to Marlow. Marlow coach Kate Porter was thrilled with the result which puts the ladies 1s top of the table in a year where National League promotion is highly attainable.
Other women’s results:
- 2nd Team lost 4-0 to Reading 3s,
- 3rd Team beat Wallingford 2s 2-0,
- 4th Team lost 4-3 to Banbury 2s,
- 5th Team beat Yateley 2s 7-2,
- 6th Team beat Wallingford 4s 3-0, and
- 7th Team lost 1-0 to Staines 3s.
Men’s results:
Marlow Men’s 2nd Team:
After the highs of their promotion campaign last season, Marlow men’s 2nd XI was full of confidence going into their first game of the season in a new league against feisty opposition Amersham & Chalfont first team.
Marlow had assembled a brand-new side including notable additions from Maidenhead HC. Ex-Marlow juniors and first team players, Steve Harding and Chris Brown had been brought in to strengthen a midfield line that had seen numerous departures over the summer. The backline had also seen its fair share of change with Toby Hill, Joe Henwood, and Seb Hillebrand coming in to lower the average age of the squad. After a six-year hiatus from hockey, veteran Lloyd Francis bolstered the forward line.
Having had little time to form connections, the implementation of a new tactical approach and with new coach Helen Windsor on her way back from Southampton after securing victory with the ladies first team, Marlow struggled in the opening minutes and found it tricky to keep up with the pace of the game.
A&C struck the first blow as Tom Mckinlay fired in a dubious reverse stick finish from the left-hand side of the circle into the bottom corner. With Marlow certain that the goal should not have stood they struggled to compose themselves. Amersham continued with their counter attacking waves and their forward was awarded a penalty corner from an adjudged push in the back from Steve Harding. This was converted and A&C found themselves 2-0 to the good at going into the half time interval.
After a few stern words from coach Luke Stone and a couple of tactical tweaks, Marlow hoped to start the 2nd half on the front foot. However, this was not the case and A&C scored two more goals with some intricate play. Marlow were now 4-0 down.
This proved to be the kick up the back side that Marlow needed as they began to dominate possession and created a host of fantastic chances going into the final 30 minutes. Phil Cowell scored Marlow’s first goal of the game as he fired a penalty stroke into the corner of the goal. Momentum had swung the way of Marlow and a deliberate back stick from the A&C defender inside the 25 led to a penalty corner. Cowell confidently dispatched the corner to score his second of the game. Three minutes later another stroke was awarded, and Cowell stepped up with unwavering confidence and slotted the ball in the same corner as his first. The deficit was reduced to one goal.
Constant pressure and circle penetration from Marlow led to numerous chances and the ball fell to Dan Field on the P-spot who’s first time effort agonisingly went past the post. Marlow were to have one more chance as a corner was awarded on the final whistle. A Cowell flick and a Toby Hill and Dan Field deflection looked as though it would be a certain goal until the A&C goalkeeper produced the save of the match to ensure they went home with all three points. Final score: Marlow 3-4 Amersham.
Marlow Men’s 1st Team:
After having a successful pre-season and thrashing bitter rivals Wycombe HC in the Croxson cup last weekend, Marlow Men’s 1st Team were full of confidence going into their first league match of the season against another local rival in Reading Hockey Club.
Excitement was in the air as Pound Lane welcomed several newcomers which included Dave Harding – arriving from Henley, Imre Gerrits back from his time in Turkey, Louis Cadinouche and Owen Heale joining the club after representing The University of Nottingham and Nottingham Trent Hockey Clubs respectively. Marlow were without Ghanaian international, Benjamin Kwofie, after falling ill during the week so experienced player-coach Luke Stone stepped in to fill the void. And a mention to Matty Gillespie, a stalwart in the Men’s second XI last season, making his well-deserved 1st team competitive debut.
Confidence was high and after a motivational team talk prior to push back, which included a special appearance from Men’s club captain Ben Horan, Marlow flew out the blocks and took control of the game with their new style press causing the Reading defence issues. George Evans, now first choice corner flicker in Cal White’s absence, tucked away his first of the game with a low flick to the keepers right. Four minutes later Marlow won another penalty corner. Another Evans flick rebounded off the Reading keeper which caused chaos among the Reading defence and Josh Morgans found himself free on the back post to score a well taken first time slap putting Marlow 2-0 to the good.
Having drafted in five first team players to bolster the side, Reading looked a fine outfit and grew into the game as the half moved on. Ted Warren started the Reading come back scoring a tidy deflection beating Marlow keeper Max Chawner-Davis to make it 2-1. Johan Perera, formerly of Oxford University, scored Reading’s second of the game on 38 minutes with a well taken penalty corner levelling the score.
It took Reading until the 48th minute to put themselves ahead in the game as forward Harrison Scott scored a lethal strike from the top of the circle beating Chawner-Davis at his near post putting Reading 3-2 to the good. Ex-Reading first team player, Charlie Ellison, showed his quality and Reading began to dictate possession. Marlow were soon caught out with a long ball over the top which was taken down well and duly finished on the 48-minute mark after a couple of attempts from the Reading forwards. Four minutes later Reading won a corner and Perera converted to score his second of the game. 5-2 Reading putting the game beyond doubt.
Evans secured his man of the match status after scoring his second penalty corner of the game to give Marlow hope of a comeback. However, this was to be the last of the goals and final score Marlow 3 – 5 Reading.
Special shout out to Callum Heppner-Logan who seamlessly took over from Joe Gleeson as first team manager and provided a cool head amidst the chaos of the occasion.
Other Men’s results:
- 3rd Team beat Phoenix Reading 1s 3-1,
- 4th Team – No game,
- 5th Team beat Henley 4s 4-1,
- 6th Team lost 3-1 against A&C 6s, and
- 7th Team drew 2-2 vs Sonning 5s.
Upcoming fixtures: 30/09/2023
Home Away Venue Push Back Time Slough Ladies’ 3s Marlow Ladies’ 6s Slough HC 10:00 Marlow Men’s 7s Newbury & Thatcham Ladies’ 6s Bisham Abbey 10:00 Milton Keynes Ladies’ 2s Marlow Ladies’ 3s MK HC 10:30 Reading Men’s 6s Marlow Men’s 5s Reading HC 10:30 Yateley Ladies’ 1s Marlow Ladies’ 4s Yateley HC 10:30 Newbury and Thatcham Men’s 2s Marlow Men’s 3s Henwick Worthy 11:00 Marlow Ladies’ 2s Portsmouth Ladies’ 2s Marlow HC 11:30 Marlow Ladies’ 7s Yateley ladies’ 3s Bisham Abbey 11:30 Oxford University Men’s 1s Marlow Men’s 1s Oxford University 12:30 Marlow Ladies’ 5s Phoenix Reading Ladies’ 2s Bisham Abbey 13:00 Marlow Men’s 4s Reading Men’s 5s Marlow HC 13:00 Newbury & Thatcham 5s Marlow Men’s 6s Trinity School, Newbury 13:00 Marlow Ladies’ 1s Oxford Ladies’ 1s Marlow HC 14:45 Marlow Men’s 2s Milton Keynes Men’s 1s Marlow HC 16:30
