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.
Women’s Hockey Club
Women’s results
Marlow 1sts welcomed local rivals Henley to Pound Lane and came away with an emphatic 7-0 victory.
Marlow started aggressively, winning a penalty corner in the opening minutes but were unable to convert.
Marlow captain, Beth Halbard, broke the deadlock for Marlow after just four minutes. The lead was doubled after Lauren Hilditch (image above), who formerly played for Henley, fired the ball past the keeper.
Marlow continued to dominate possession and Kiera Allen scored a reverse stick rocket from a tight angle after an impressive individual run.
Maddy Peacock found herself in a striking position but was denied by the Henley keeper leaving the score 3-0 at half time.
Marlow continued to play some incredible hockey, keeping the pressure on the Henley defence.
Ellie Lane scored her first goal of the season after keeping her composure in the circle. Lane quickly scored her second five minutes after her first with some superb individual play.
Henley fought back and Marlow keeper Alys Ramm had to make some important saves following a defensive corner to ensure a clean sheet.
Halbard secured her second brace in two weeks in the 52nd minute. However she was denied a hat trick with a superb save with the glove of the Henley keeper just minutes later.
Nat Riches tried to add to the score line with a drag flick which narrowly missed the goal post. Lauren Hilditch earned her ‘Player of the Match’ status by scoring her second of the game in the 65th minute.
This was Marlow’s best performance of the season and a 7-0 scoreline reflects how relentlessly the women worked.
Next week the Reds head to Oxford Hawks in a crucial match at the top of the table with both teams winning all seven of their games so far.
League table
The 2nd team were away to Chichester 1s and a brace from Helena Kennedy and player of match performance in goal from Ruby Duncan helped secure a fantastic 4-2 win.
Duncan made an early 1 vs 1 save before Marlow asserted themselves offensively.
Sarah Robertson slotted in a corner before Chichester drew level on a breakaway.
Tireless work in midfield generated more chances and Marlow were rewarded when Kennedy was perfectly placed to score twice at the far post.
Gracie Runcie cooly converted a penalty stroke to give Marlow a 3-goal cushion at half time.
Chichester had the better of second half but couldn’t get past Duncan until the final 10 minutes. The game finished 4-2 and Marlow resolutely defended short corners and were able to see the remaining minutes out.
League table
Other women’s results:
- 3rd Team lost 4-1 to Staines 1s,
- 4th Team lost 4-0 to Leighton Buzzard 2s,
- 5th Team beat Windsor 2s 5-0,
- 6th Team lost 6-2 away to Yately 2s, and
- 7th Team beat Harlow High Wycombe 2-0.
Men’s results
Marlow Men’s 1st team were at home to Bournemouth and having been two goals to the good Marlow lost 3-2 in a tightly contested game.
Marlow started brightly going two goals up in 7 minutes through Sam North and Isaac Maddern. Everything seemed plain sailing.
The first team were without three of their most influential players: Josh Morgans (injured) Louis Cadinouche (moving to France for work) and Imre Geritts (moving to London for work and will be playing for Richmond HC).
Despite absentees Marlow were pressing hard and keeping possession well but Bournemouth, defending well were still in the game with some fast forwards always likely to hit Marlow on the break. they did so twice to level the score at 2-2 before halftime.
The second half was much the same with Marlow keeping possession and pressing hard but unable to create clear-cut chances.
Bournemouth mounted some attacks from which they went ahead and directly afterwards were awarded a penalty stroke which Max Chawner-Davies in goal did well to save.
After this Marlow continued to press hard against a massed defence to no avail. The game ended with Marlow awarded a penalty corner which led to a shot just wide of the goal – which the crowd thought had gone in.
It was not to be, and a frustrating game ended 3-2 to the visitors and Marlow left without the point that they deserved.
League table
Marlow 2s were away to Witney 1st for what promised to be a close game. This was the case as both teams came away with a point in a 3-3 draw.
Both teams were separated by just a point ahead of the match.
Witney took the lead inside the first minute after a loose pass from the back line was intercepted and a simple ball across the face of the goal left GK Ivor helpless.
This, however, didn’t dampen the spirits of the Marlow players, who bounced back almost immediately with a tap-in from captain Dan Field after a melee in the D.
Unfortunately though, Marlow couldn’t keep Witney out at the other end and only a matter of minutes after equalising, another turnover gave the hosts a golden opportunity which they dispatched clinically.
Not to be put off again, Marlow began to take control of the game and created several good opportunities. Eventually, one of these was taken, with a lovely first-time reverse from Lloyd Francis after some neat passing, cutting through the Witney back line.
The remainder of the first half was controlled by Marlow.
The second half was largely similar to the first, with Marlow dominating possession. However, chances were harder to come by this time. As the game appeared to be heading towards a 2-2 draw, with only a few minutes remaining, an aerial out from the Witney defence saw their two forwards in possession and scored what looked to be the winner.
The final few minutes saw Marlow players throwing everything they had at Witney and just as all looked lost, Jonny Mee dispossessed a Witney player outside the D, and found Dan Field who found the bottom corner with a reverse stick flick.
Marlow came off feeling they could have had all 3 points on another day.
League table
Other men’s results:
- 3rd Team lost 4-3 to Bicester 1s,
- 4th Team beat Amersham & Chalfont 4s 4-3,
- 5th Team lost 3-1 to Wycombe 3s,
- 6th Team beat Eastcote 6s 5-2, and
- 7th Team beat Wallingford 5s 7-0.
Marlow Town Women’s Football Club
Marlow took on Rotherfield United In a highly competitive match that ended with Rotherfield taking all three points.
Rotherfield United Women ran out 3-1 winners in what was a close match with chances for both teams.
In wet conditions, Marlow Town Women played top of the table and undefeated Rotherfield United Women for the first time.
Marlow’s Rebecca Meller scored a consolation goal late on with a well worked move.
Marlow played a really good game against tough opposition, and the lineup included two debuts from Veronica Taylor and Sarah Robertson; both played well in their first game.
Well done to everyone that played!
Marlow are 4th in the league and next up is another away game to 10th place Wroxton Sports Ladies on Sunday, 19th November at 2pm.
Marlow Football Club
Match postponed vs Badshot Lea @Westfield Lane due to unplayable pitch – Isthmian League – South Central Division.
The U23s beat Wokingham & Emmbrook Res 6-3
Goal scorers: Tom Craft x2, Max Bowles x2, Alex Dimmock & Alfie Corrick.
Upcoming 1st Team Fixture: Marlow FC vs Chertsey Town, Sat 18th Nov 3pm KO, home game.
