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 Hockey Club
Women’s results
Marlow were away to Maidenhead for a frosty morning match. In a closely fought game, Marlow came away from Altwood School with all three points in a 2-1 win.
Maidenhead appeared more up for the game and were aggressive in their play making it difficult for Marlow to keep possession of the ball.
Marlow defender Nat Riches kept her composure on several occasions making last-ditch tackles in the circle to ensure that the score remained 0-0.
Marlow came back into the game and had chances of their own, but the Maidenhead keeper played extremely well to keep the score 0-0 at half time.
Maidenhead continued to show their desire to attack and won a penalty corner within minutes of the restart after the halftime break.
The Marlow defence could not keep the ball out and the home side took the lead. This seemed to serve as a catalyst for Marlow to step up their game.
There were some outstanding examples of passing hockey and the Reds were rewarded with their own penalty corner in the 49th minute.
Lauren Hilditch equalized with a superb deflection that the Maidenhead defence could do nothing about. Both teams had their share of attacking opportunities with a hat full of penalty corners.
Marlow captain, Beth Halbard, led her team with an immense work rate and belief in the attacking circle and was unlucky not to find herself on the scoresheet with one of her chances narrowly missing the far post.
Martha Goodridge scored her eighth league goal of the season with a strike from another penalty corner to give Marlow the lead.
The remaining 10 minutes of the game were nail-biting as Maidenhead continued to pursue an equalizer with keeper Alys Ramm having to remain calm whilst making a match-winning stick save from a drag flick.
As the final whistle blew, Marlow were relieved to have taken all three points in a well-contested match.
Marlow now sit 6 points clear at the top of the league with Oxford Hawks losing 3-1 away to Bournemouth.
Upcoming fixture
Bournemouth travel to Pound Lane to take on an inform Marlow side at 13:15pm on Saturday 2nd December.
League table
The women’s 2nd Team were away to Haslemere 1s and played out a tightly contested 2-2 draw sharing a point each.
Marlow went 2-1 up through Lenny Connetta’s deflection at a short corner and a goal by Sarah Briggs.
Haslemere scored twice to go ahead in the final stages before Emma Buxton converted to equalise at 3-3 and gain a well-earned point.
After a slow start to the season Marlow have now got some momentum and are up to 9th in the table.
Upcoming fixture
The reds take on Basingstoke 2s at Marlow Sports Club at 3pm, Saturday 2nd December.
League table
There was only one other women’s match played in which the 6th team drew away 2-2 against Newbury & Thatcham 4s.
Men’s results
With the pitch at Pound Lane frozen, several games had to be postponed. However, the men’s 1st team were able to play their home fixture at The Redgrave Sports Centre at Great Marlow School against South Berkshire and claimed three points in a solid 5-1 win.
Marlow dominated the game from the start but found it difficult to create many clear-cut chances against a massed South Berks defence.
After nine minutes, Marlow were awarded a penalty corner. The ball was smashed against the post and Josh Morgans was in the right place to follow up with a well taken rebound goal.
The game continued in much the same fashion as Cameron Beazley-Clarke scored another opportunist goal (his 10th of the season) when he deflected a shot on goal past the goalkeeper to put Marlow 2-0. The scoreline remained this way until the break.
Marlow continued to have most of the possession with South Berkshire deciding to set up with a well-structured defensive shape, where they worked hard to break down Marlow’s attacks and play on the counterattack.
Marlow struggled to break them down with few chances being created and little for the forwards to work with.
However, after a melee in the South Berkshire D Toby Hill grabbed an opportunist goal, his first of the season, in the 50th minute making it 3-0 to Marlow.
Six minutes later the South Berkshire concentration was broken and a through ball by Ollie Green left Josh Covus one one-on-one with the goalkeeper who he rounded to complete a clinical finish, 4-0 Marlow.
Finally, South Berkshire showed some forward-thinking fight, with Marlow showing good defensive strength to repel several attacks.
Marlow were finally broken down by a good passing movement where South Berks were awarded a penalty corner from which they scored in the 58thminute with a clean strike low to the goalkeeper’s right, 5-1 Marlow.
Marlow responded quickly and following a counterattack of their own won a penalty corner from which Sam North scored with a direct strike. This was the last straw for South Berks and the game finished with a hard-fought 5-1 victory to Marlow.
Upcoming fixture
Marlow travel to Oxford to take on 2nd placed Oxford Brookes University on Saturday 2nd December at 2:30pm.
League table
The 2nd team were away to Andover 1s who are second in the league and have only lost one game. The Hampshire side claimed all three points in a 4-0 win against a weakened Marlow side.
Marlow were forced to make several changes and two youngsters Ollie Harvey and Matt Raynor made their second team debuts!
Marlow were up against it from the start and went down 4-0 with two goals for Andover in each half.
Upcoming fixture
On Saturday, the second team will be hosting Maidenhead 1sts at 11.30 at Pound Lane.
League table
Other men’s results:
- 3rd Team lost 4-2 to Henley 2s,
- 4th Team beat Eastcote 4s 5-0,
- 5th Team beat Amersham & Chalfont 5s 3-2 away, and
- 7th Team beat Eastcote 7s 5-2.
Marlow Football Club
On Saturday 25th November, Marlow FC visited The Racecourse Ground to play Ascot United and came home with all three points in a convincing 2-0 display.
After the highs of their win on Tuesday against Uxbridge and a dream debut for Dave Tarpey bagging a brace, The Blues went in the Saturday afternoon game full of confidence.
In the early stages of the game Marlow were on top, but in the 13th minute Jordan Hamilton-Olise was forced off injured and was replaced by Brandon Curtis.
Marlow were rewarded for their efforts when the Ascot player George Lock scored an own goal in the 30th minute.
Marksman, Dawid Rogalski, scored in the 59th minute to put the game beyond doubt.
The final score Marlow 2, Ascot 0. A well-deserved clean sheet for the Blues.
The result leaves Ascot in 18th place level on points with Guernsey who occupy the second relegation spot. Marlow are firmly in a play-off position and have games in hand on the teams above them.
League table
Berks & Bucks Senior Cup
Marlow hosted Berks County in the Berks & Bucks Senior Cup at The Alfred Davis Ground on Tuesday 28th November and after drawing the game 0-0 in regular time the blues emphatically won 4-1 on penalties to progress to the next round.
Marlow Town Women Football Club
Marlow played a competitive match against 2nd-placed Berks County Women.
It was a determined display from the ladies in blue but they came away disappointed after a 5-1 loss.
Two goals in the first half from Berks County gave them a comfortable advantage. A goal from Sarah Robertson for Marlow shortly after the break halved the deficit to 2-1.
Marlow were in the game until the latter stages when Berks scored three well-taken goals to win the game. Final score, 5-1 to Berks County.
Well done to everyone who played in the match and a special mention goes to Sarah for scoring her first goal for the club.
Marlow remain in 4th position after ten games with a game in hand on 3rd-placed Wokingham & Emmbrook.
Upcoming fixture
League table
