Welcome to this week’s roundup of sporting action from around Marlow. We are keen to include as wide a variety of sports and clubs, so if you want to be featured, please contact our sports reporter Cameron Beazley-Clarke via our contact form.
Marlow Town Women’s Football Club
Marlow Town Women took on Arborfield FC in the 2pm kick-off in what would be a convincing 6-1 victory for the ladies in blue.
In matchday 4 of the Development Division of the Thames Valley Counties Women’s Football League, Marlow Town Women found themselves behind in the early exchanges only for Marlow to respond excellently with six goals of their own.
Marlow went into the game off the back of a 2-0 defeat to one of the favourites to win the division – Stanford-in-the-vale. After a slow start and going 1-0 down after 5 mins courtesy an unlucky deflection, Marlow came into their own and, with patience and fantastic teamwork were leading 2-1 at half-time. The comeback was complete with 4 well-worked goals in the second half as Arborfield started to tire. Marlow’s experience and stamina prevailed and were the main contributors in achieving a positive result.
Goal scorers: Sharon Muir x4, Shannen O’Connor x1 and Becca Meller x1.
Marlow are now 2nd in the division and face local rivals Wycombe Saints Ladies at 2pm on Saturday 8th October at The Rye.
Marlow United FC
Marlow continued their belated league campaign with a well earned 1-1 draw against Allied Community Elite Development at Reading’s Sol Joel Park.
Allied proved a tough test as they fielded six players who had not previously played for the development side this season and certainly looked a stronger outfit than their previous results indicated.
Chris Mantle partnered Ethan Herridge in the centre of the defence with Devonte Johnson slotting into the centre forward role for the unavailable Cody McCarthy.
The home team were quickly out of the blocks as the Marlow took time to settle but once into their stride they were more than a match for Allied.
Thorndyke, Moore and the returning Matt Jones all had efforts on goal but were all to no avail as the Allied goalkeeper stood firm.
Devonte Johnson fared no better and squandered another chance. At the other end, keeper Appleton was rarely called into action as the back three held firm. Notable mention to Ben Collins put in a particularly good performance in the centre of the back three.
The final chance of the half fell to Jack Rowley whose tame shot at goal missed the target. The midfielder soon made amends in the second period as an Appleton clearance caused havoc in the Allied area with the ball eventually arriving at Rowley’s feet wide on the left and, under pressure, he looked up and chipped an impudent ball over defenders and keeper into the net – a goal to grace any match!
Marlow then took the game to their opponents. The busy Johnson seeing his shot parried by the keeper and Thorndyke fouled by a rash challenge in the penalty box. However, decision was no penalty.
On the hour that decision came back to haunt United as Johnson lost the ball on the halfway line. It was picked up by Allied’s Shafiq who ran on and spotting Appleton through only for the official to blow for full time as the player bore down on goal.
FT 1-1. Overall, a point gained in only the second league game of the season for Marlow United FC. Next up, Reading City Lions 2pm, Sat 7th Oct.
Marlow Football Club
In an exciting head to head at Footes Lane Stadium, Marlow came away with a 1-0 victory against overseas rivals Guernsey in the 3pm kick-off.
Marlow left on a jet plane and headed to Guernsey, having already defeated the Gatwick Air Traffic Controller shortage. But could they defeat the Green Lions?
It was a cagey affair in the first half but Marlow eventually went ahead eleven minutes from time – Rhys Harper with a well-taken goal (79″).
Marlow FC manager, Mark Bartley: “After an incredibly early start, and long day, I have nothing but admiration for my players today. The trip to Guernsey is grueling and one which can easily trip you up.
“So 3pts, a clean sheet and an overall dominant performance is more than a satisfactory days work”. (@markusbartley on X).
04 Oct 23
Wed. 7:45pmSouthall FC v. Marlow FC 1st team – Isthmian League – South Central
Marlow Hockey Club
Women’s results:
Marlow 1st welcomed Oxford 1s to Pound Lane in what what be an entertaining 3-2 victory for the swans. Vic Allen opened the scoring for them in the second minute. After an initial save by the keeper, Allen scooped the ball into the back of the net. Lauren Hilditch doubled the lead ten minutes later after an incredible solo run around the back of the Oxford defence to beat the keeper. A skilful Oxford were fast in attack, but the Marlow defence held strong to go into halftime 2-0 up.
Oxford came out fighting in the second half and scored within minutes of the restart. Both teams fought to retain possession in an end-to-end game. Martha Goodridge extended Marlow’s lead once again to make the score 3-1. Oxford fought back but were denied by an amazing save by Marlow keeper Alys Ramm.
The away side capitalized on an error in defence and converted a penalty corner with five minutes to go. Goodridge was agonizingly close to scoring again in the final minutes but was denied by the inside of the post. Marlow earned three hard fought points with the final score 3-2.
The 2nd team put in an improved performance but couldn’t avoid a 2-1 defeat at home to Portsmouth. After a shaky opening few minutes, Marlow settled into the game and showed much attacking promise throughout but were undone by two well taken short corners. Sarah Briggs converted one in reply but Marlow, for all their positive play, couldn’t execute further opportunities. Portsmouth’s keeper came to their rescue on numerous occasions and a last-minute goal line clearance denied Marlow a deserved point.
Other women’s results:
- 3rd Team beat Milton Keynes 2s 4-1,
- 4th Team drew with Yateley 1s 3-3,
- 5th Team lost 4-2 to Reading Phoenix 2s 4-2,
- 6th Team beat Slough 3s 5-0 away, and
- 7th Team lost 6-0 to Yateley 3s.
Men’s results:
Marlow men’s first team will feel disappointed not to have come away with all three points having statistically dominated the game away versus Oxford University 1sts.
Marlow’s penalty corner tally was into double figures, but they failed to convert one and were left frustrated by the lack of conversions. Debutant Isaac Maddern held his nerve to put the reds 1-0 up after 27 mins and they carried that lead into the break. Ten minutes into the second period the hosts levelled with a thunderous strike that goalkeeper Max Chawner-Davis could do nothing about.
Man of the match, Marlow’s captain, Sam North was on fire with his long-range distribution, but it was all to no avail as the hosts kept the ball out of their net for the rest of the game and it finished 1-1.
1 point from 6 is not the start they wanted but they’ll be training hard to prepare to host Trojans next week, 4:30pm start at Pound Lane.
The men’s 2s had a good win at home against Milton Keynes 1s. Jonny Mee opened the scoring in the 4th minute with a nice finish to an attacking move down the right. The visitors responded in the 20th minute when they won the ball in midfield and drove down the left, crossed to the striker on the far post who tapped it home, Dan Field then played the ball across the goal and a defender bundled he ball into his own net. making it 2-1 to Marlow at half time. MK equalised in the 64th minute with a well-taken goal from a short corner. Marlow went ahead almost straight away when an infringement by one of the defenders led to a player sent off with a yellow card and the ensuing penalty corner was converted by Joe Henwood. Marlow retained their 3-2 lead until the end in an overall strong performance.
Other men’s results:
- 3rd Team lost 4-2 to Newbury & Thatcham 2s,
- 4th Team beat Reading 5s 2-0,
- 5th Team beat Reading 6s 2-1,
- 6th Team beat Newbury & Thatcham 5s 4-3, and
- 7th Team beat newbury & Thatcham 6s 7-0.
Upcoming fixtures: 07/10/2023
Home Away Venue Push Back Time Winchester Ladies’ 1s Marlow Ladies’ 2s Winchester HC TBC Marlow Men’s 3s Milton Keynes Men’s 2s Marlow HC TBC Reading Ladies’ 7s Marlow Ladies’ 7s Reading HC 10:00 Marlow Men’s 6s South Berkshire Men’s 6s Bisham Abbey 10:00 Berkhamsted & Hemel Men’s 2s Marlow Men’s 4s B&HH HC 11:30 Newbury and Thatcham Ladies’ 4s Marlow Ladies’ 5s Trinity School, Newbury 11:30 Marlow Ladies’ 4s Reading Ladies’ 5s Redgrave Sports Centre (GMS) 12:30 Marlow Ladies’ 3s Oxford Hawks ladies’ 3s Marlow HC 13:00 Maidenhead Men’s 4s Marlow Men’s 7s Altwood School 13:15 Marlow mens’ 5s Eastcote Men’s 5s Redgrave Sports Centre (GMS) 14:00 Amersham & Chalfont Ladies’ 1s Marlow Ladies’ 1s Amersham and Wycombe College Campus 14:30 Marlow Men’s 2s Basingstoke Men’s 1s Marlow HC 14:45 Marlow Ladies’ 6s Newbury & Thatcham Ladies’ 3s Redgrave Sports Centre (GMS) 15:30 Marlow Men’s 1s Trojans Men’s 1s Marlow HC 16:30
