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
Marlow Men’s 1st team beat Haslemere 4-3 at home in a game that turned out to be an exciting end-to-end encounter.
Haslemere caught Marlow on the counter after only three minutes with a fine goal from a very narrow angle.
Marlow knew they were in for a tough game but soon settled down with some fluent hockey which resulted in a goal by Isaac Maddern who took the chance well to complete a passing movement involving several players.
Marlow went ahead before halftime after more pressure on the visitor’s goal gave Mark Lowden a chance to score from close in.
In the second half Marlow continued to have most of the play but Haslemere with some fast direct hockey were turning defence into attack at speed and after Marlow went further ahead through Josh Covus, Haslemere struck twice to level at 3-3.
Marlow continued to play an attacking game and another goal by Josh Covus, after Cameron Beazley-Clarke intercepted an ariel in the corner of the pitch, sealed the win although Marlow had a few more anxious moments in the closing minutes.
It was fantastic to see that three of Marlow’s four goals were scored by the two youngest members of the team in a victory that was hard won but on the run of play was well deserved.
The Men’s 1st team were to play Maidenhead, but they have been given a walkover to the next round of the EH Cup. Marlow 2nd team are entertaining Maidenhead, who sit bottom of the league without a win, on Tuesday night in a rearranged league match at Bisham Abbey.
League table
The men’s 2nd were also at home to tough opposition in Fareham 2s and the way the match went was very similar. This time the score was 4-3 to the visitors.
The first half ended 1-1 with Marlow’s goals the result of a penalty stroke taken by Dave Harding, who unfortunately had to go off injured and missed the second half.
Fareham started the second half strongly and went 3-1 up but Marlow were not downhearted and came back into the game pressing the visitor’s defence hard and levelling the score with two opportunist goals by Dan Field and Pat Staal.
When it looked as though the game would end in a draw Fareham sealed their win with their fourth goal.
League table
Other men’s results:
- 3rd Team lost 2-1 to Windsor 1s,
- 4th Team beat Windsor 2s 2-1,
- 5th Team beat South Berkshire 5s 11-2,
- 6th Team lost 6-1 to Yateley 3s and,
- 7th Team drew 1-1 with Yateley 4s.
Women’s results
Marlow travelled to Southampton to play Trojans 2s in a top versus bottom of the table match. Marlow returned to pound lane with three points in a comfortable 5-0 win.
Marlow played some great passing hockey but the Trojans goalkeeper made numerous saves to deny the visitors until the 25th minute.
Captain Rachel Goodwin led by example and scored a rocket of a strike in open play which eluded the Trojans keeper.
Trojans had their own chances, with Marlow keeper Alys Ramm having to stay alert and make some important saves including a 1 on 1 to keep a clean sheet.
Marlow improved their accuracy of passing in the second half and Rachel Goodwin scored her second of the day via a short corner.
Rachel Clarke was in a great position at the back post to score Marlow’s third in the 50th minute.
Milly Conibear scored another Marlow short corner goal to make the score 4-0.
The final goal came for Emma Turrell in the closing minutes of the game with a calm finish at the back post.
Player of the match went to Colette Fitzpatrick for her tireless work in the midfield which led to many of the attacking opportunities Marlow enjoyed.
Marlow remain top of the league having won ten games from ten as the league closes for the Christmas break.
The Women’s 1st team play the British Army Women on Saturday at Woking at 1.30 pm.
League table
Christmas came early for coach Jaypee as the women’s 2s put in a cracker of a performance to win 6-1 away at high flyers Banbury 1sts.
Marlow played with intensity from the start and immediately had the opposition on the back foot.
Tilly Olney opened the scoring, skilfully volleying in on her reverse, to give the Reds a deserved lead.
Banbury had to absorb pressure and aimed to counter. Ruby Duncan stayed alert to make two crucial stick stop saves but conceded on the stroke of half time when Marlow defence had a brief concentration lapse, 1-1.
Knowing the home side would come out strong for the second half, Marlow’s midfield worked hard to close down and make timely interceptions.
Julia Westnedge fired in a corner before hattrick hero Sarah Robertson finished off following team moves to make it 5-1.
Jazzy Elsden and Emma Buxton continued to torment Banbury and were both unfortunate not to get on the score sheet.
Buxton’s mazy run and shot was illegally saved on the line and Gracie Runcie converted the resulting penalty stroke to complete a festive rout.
League table
Marlow Town Women’s Football Club
No game due to water logged pitch.
Upcoming fixture on 17/12/2023
Marlow Town Women vs Wroxton Sports Ladies, 2pm kick off @ Hedsor Club.
Marlow Football Club
No game due to water logged pitch.
Upcoming fixture on 16/12/2023
Marlow FC vs South Park (Reigate) FC, 3pm kick off @ Oak Tree Road.
