SPORT
ITALIA HELLENIC LEAGUE
DIVISION
ONE EAST
UNITED STUN THE CHAMPIONS
Bisley Sports - 0 Marlow United - 1
Marlow
United stunned reigning Hellenic League Div 1 East champions Bisley FC at Lion
Park grabbing a 94th minute winning goal through rookie defender
Ollie Flint and turning the game on its head in the process.
Bisley
trooped of the pitch at the final whistle bemused and dejected having dominated
for most of the 95 minutes played but failing to capitalise on their territorial
advantage, finally falling to United’s sucker punch at the death.
In
truth the home side only had themselves to blame creating enough chances to have
won the game in a cantor. The fact that they did not was down to some woeful
finishing plus some inspired goalkeeping from Anthony Cooper and equally
brilliant defending from central defenders Gary Wiltshire and Tristan Heywood.
United
kicked off on a warm and sunny afternoon but soon found themselves under
pressure. Winning the ball in midfield Bisley attacked down the left, ending
with Craig Parker hitting the post on 30 seconds from a Pym cross.
Within
seconds Taylor volleyed over following a free kick as the home team kept up the
pressure. The same player pulled his shot across the face of the goal when well
placed whilst at the other end Ryan Davis found himself in space in front of
goal following a through ball from Middleton only for keeper Gleeson to save as
the game kept up a frantic pace.
Two
minutes later Ollie Flints headed clearance sent Matty Glynn clear on the right
only for his cross to evade everyone.
Bisley
continued to set the pace in the game, Craig Parker finding himself unmarked in
the area only for Cooper to save with his feet.
Glynn
found himself in the referees book on 16 minutes as his frustration at the tight
marking he received from Chapman, who dogged the Marlow mans footsteps
throughout the first half, ending when a stray elbow found his protagonists
face.
Two
minutes later Mark Sciaraffa saved United’s blushes clearing off the line from
a free kick with Cooper saving the follow up shot.
Just
to remind Bisley there were two teams on the pitch Doug Buchanan volleyed over
from a Glynn free kick. With Flint reverting to fullback Lanaway was involved in
some promising moves as Marlow began to assert some pressure of their own.
Buchanan
and Ryan combined to allow Glynn to shoot over before Lanaway crossed to
Buchanan whose shot cannoned of the right post in United’s best chance in the
game to date.
It
was Cooper who was the busier of the two keepers though, saving twice from
Taylor with Wiltshire who was carrying an ankle injury after an earlier
challenge, being booked for a hefty challenge as the Marlow defence repulsed
everything that Bisley threw at them.
Glynn
was released in the Bisley half, his surging run ending in the penalty area as
the Marlow midfielder lost his footing when well placed.
The
home side ended the half on top with Stevens firing wide from a free kick.
Half
time 0-0
Marlow
were immediately on the defensive as the second period began, Wiltshire’s last
ditch tackle denying Pym a goal scoring opportunity.
The
Marlow man was then involved at the other end, heading wide from a Sciaraffa
corner only for Taylor to be denied by Ollie Flint as Bisley counter attacked.
The
home team continued to dictate the game although they relied on the longer ball
over the top to the speedy Luke Taylor who continually stretched the United’s
back four. Cooper was called into action saving from Pym and Parker before Miles
fired a free kick into the United wall. Matt Flint replaced a tiring Sciaraffa
on 65 minutes as Taylor again wasted a chance firing over from a through ball.
Marlow’s
best chance came as Wiltshire and Flint combined the latter’s cross finding
Middleton free in the area only for the Marlow man to waste a glorious
opportunity firing at the home keeper.
Vinnie
Cuva replaced Glynn on 68 minutes as the Marlow management attempted to inject
some pace into the front line and within two minutes the sub found space on the
left and fired the ball across the face of the goal.
Davis
was replaced by West on 73 minutes having battled virtually alone upfront and
Cuva fired wide immediately afterwards.
On 87
minutes Bisley sub Greenwood spurned a great opportunity to take the lead
missing the target from 4 yards after a good build up.
How
they would come to regret those missed chances.
Marlow
gained a corner on 89 minutes with Flint’s effort being blocked and Cooper
cleared from the edge of his area from the Bisley counter attack as the game
appeared to be heading to a 0-0 draw.
With
the away bench pleading for the final whistle and the game dragging into the 94th
minute United launched one last attack. The ball was played into Cuva on the
left; he cut inside before playing a perfect pass to the onrushing Ollie Flint.
The young defender steadied himself before crashing the ball off the underside
of the crossbar and into the back of the net from around 15 yards.
With Bisley
wasting a final free kick as Heywood received a caution for a tackle the game
ended with scenes of ecstasy from the United
bench and supporters.
Manager Kevin Carvell
stated after the match” I think you could say we stole those three points.
Credit to Ollie Flint who showed great maturity to score although I’ll have to
have a word with him, what was a full back doing in their area at that stage of
the game”
Scores
1)
A Cooper
8 Had to be brilliant. He
was.
2)
O Flint
7 An old head on young
shoulders
3)
M Sciaraffa 6
Defended well
4)
G Wiltshire 8
refused to be beaten in spite of injury
5)
T Heywood 7
perfect foil for his partner
6)
D Buchanan 6
improved as game progressed
7)
R Middleton 6 struggled
with pace of game
8)
A Lanaway 6
improved when moved into midfield
9)
R Davis 7
tireless display
10)
M Glynn
6 tightly marked throughout
11)
C Coull 6
Improved second half
Subs
V
Cuva 6
injected pace
A
West 6
Little time to make impact
M
Flint 7 slotted in immediately
MOM
Gary Wiltshire