This week’s update from Marlow Hockey Club:
Men’s results
The men’s first team took another step towards winning the South Central Premier League 2 in beating South Berkshire 5-1. Marlow scored very quickly when a ball from the right looped up to find Callum White right on the line and he quickly smashed the ball into the neat. Marlow’s high press left them vulnerable to a breakaway which the opposition converted with ease. Marlow continued their attack and from a penalty corner, Callum again netted with a flourish.
The score 2-1 at halftime took some time to change but a foot on the line gave Marlow a penalty stroke and another calmly taken goal to Callum who now has 32 league goals to his credit in 20 matches. After that, the opposition still continued to fight but with continued pressure, Marlow added two more goals. The first was a remarkably struck reverse stick shot from a narrow-angle by young George Evans and a thunderously hard strike at a penalty corner by Sam Burroughs.
The 2nd team continued their late-season form with their fourth victory in a row over teams above them in the league in beating Aylebury1sts away 5-2 in sunny, if very windy conditions, which made things difficult for players and umpires alike. Marlow made a bright start, with some good link play enabling Dan Field to convert. Aylesbury hit back against the run of play to take a 2-1 lead. But Marlow were robust. Isaac Maddern, returning from injury, was electric down the left. A quick ball from Rymer released him before the ball reached Field, who duly converted. A second swiftly followed, with debutant Sam Jackson involved in the buildup, as Field sealed a first half hatrick.. The second half became a tetchy affair, with Marlow seeing green and Aylesbury a yellow. But the men from Marlow held firm, with Ed Dillon keeping things tight at the back and keeper Charlie May making some blinding saves . Matty Gillespie showed class and a level head well beyond his years while Ollie Green, Dave Hand and John Butt worked tirelessly in midfield. Marlow scored a fourth through Johnny Mee, with Dave Hand adding a fifth.
Other results:- 3rd team, beat Slough2 2-0, 4ths drew 1-1 with Eastcote4. 6ths lost 4-0 to S Berks5 away
7s lost 4-1 to Yateley 4
The men’s 1st team came away with a 5-0 victory over Reading 2a in their rearranged match on Wednesday under floodlights. The 3 points secured promotion for the reds with two games to spare and also crowned them Champions of the South Central Premier League2.
The first half was a fairly even contest and Reading looked to be up for a good fight, but two clinical corners from Sam Burroughs & Callum White meant the visitors went into the break 2-0 to the good. The second half saw Marlow dominate the game with the fluid hockey they have been aspiring to play all season starting to shine through. Debutant keeper Tom Cannon was looking solid at the back while Charlie Hunter, Ben Hoggan & Freddie Pollard all scored in open play to seal the victory.
Ladies’ results
The 1st team welcomed Oxford 1s to Pound Lane. Oxford started strongly and the Marlow defence were under pressure from the whistle. Marlow came back fiercely and Kiera Allen opened the scoring for them when she was delivered a cracking ball in from the midfield. Oxford soon replied 2 minutes later to equalise. Oxford scored a further 2 goals towards the end of the first half to see the score 3-1 at halftime. A shuffle round of players at halftime saw Marlow improve in the second half. Some amazing runs from Martha Goodridge and Kiera Foster in midfield tore Oxford apart and Kerri Smith pulled a goal back for Marlow with 18 minutes remaining. Marlow pushed for an equaliser with another one of Kerri Smith’s shots hitting the post however it wasn’t to be and Oxford won the match 3-2.
The Ladies 2nd team went to Oxford to play the University 2nds but on arrival found that the opposition had failed to book a pitch
so the match had to be forfeited to Marlow who are clear at the top of the league but would rather have been playing to earn the points.
Other results:- 3rd team beat Thame1 5-2 4s lost away to Newbury & Thatcham2 3-2
6s drew 1-1 away with Newbury & Thatcham4, 7s beat Iver & Burnham1 2-0
