SPORT ITALIA HELLENIC LEAGUE

DIVISION ONE EAST

 MAGNIFICENT MINNOWS TOPPLE THE CHAMPIONS

Marlow United – 2 Chalfont Wasps - 0

Marlow United became only the second team this season to defeat Chalfont Wasps in the league. In the process they stopped the newly crowned champions from scoring for the only time this season and exacted revenge for their controversial defeat in the third game of the season.

More importantly for the home team this result ensured they finished runners up and thus gain promotion to the Premier Division in only their second season at this level.

A jubilant team celebrated along with the management team at the final whistle, not forgetting to congratulate their beaten opponents on their achievement of winning the championship.

The home team started the game in determined fashion, taking the game to Wasps from the kick off.

A long ball from Tristan Heywood found Lewis Brown free on the right. Brown advanced on goal and fired in an angled shot which Turnham brilliantly turned away for a corner.

Brown then embarked on a run, losing control of the ball just as he appeared to be in a position to shoot.

Wasps gained a corner on 6 minutes but they were finding it hard to contain the whirlwind start by the home team with James Flint finding Brown with a quick free kick his shot again being turned behind by a diving Turnham.

On 10 minutes United gained two quick corners and from the second of these, taken by Sciaraffa on the right, they opened the scoring.

The kick was fired into the near post where Callum Coull found the space to divert the ball over the line with his head.

The reverse seemed to rouse lethargic Wasps and they gradually began to assume control of the game.

With 17 minutes gone Mason’s cross found the impressive Paget who fired wide.

Paget was involved three minutes later when he appeared to be bought down in the area by Ollie Flint only to have his appeals turned down, the aggrieved player being booked for his protestations.

Marlow’s Jason Bowler was providing some dangerous passes down the left and one of these almost set Flint free in the area.

Still it was Chalfont who were dominating possession, their midfield of Mason, Moakes, Charles and Da Silva passing the ball slickly and accurately.

For all their possession though they seldom looked like scoring as a Marlow back four held the line against the pressure.

Chadbone missed a good opportunity from a Charles cross and Mason also fired wide when well placed.

Moakes became the second booking for a foul on James Flint who along with Brown was proving to be a handful for the Wasps defence with their pace and  non stop aggression.

Still Wasps created some half chances, Gilbert firing wide from another Charles cross.

Mason then fired a free kick from 20 yards into the defensive wall.

The half ended with United’s James Flint unable to control Bowlers free kick in the Wasps area as the home team relieved some of the pressure.

HT 1-0

Wasps began the second half on the attack as they attempted to draw level.

It was the home team though who looked more dangerous with a Bowler cross evading everyone.

Bowler then fired in a corner from the left. The ball was returned to the Marlow man and his cross was volleyed over by Buchanan.

United then created another opportunity after good play by Coull and Flint, the latter’s cross being cleared.

Wasps broke quickly only for the attack to break down as Heywood was fouled.

United tested Turnham with a Bowler free kick, the keeper punching the ball clear under pressure.

Wasps then had a second penalty appeal turned down as a cross from the left skidded across the area and a Wasps forward was impeded as he went for the ball.

The game was being played at a frantic pace with neither side prepared to allow their opponents time on the ball.

United’s Buchanan and Middleton were effective in the middle of the park, not allowing Wasps to dominate as they had done in the first half.

It really was a team effort from the home team, everyone from keeper Cooper through  to the front men working there socks off to maintain their lead.

Then on 65 minutes United scored the all important second goal. Callum Coull picked up a lose ball on the right and found James Flint with a through ball. The Marlow forward advanced 10 yards before placing a superb shot over the advancing Turnham and into the corner of the goal.

Two goals was always going to be difficult to pull back especially with Heywood, Crawford, Ollie Flint and Sciaraffa playing superbly and Cooper looking supremely confident between the sticks.

Still they gave it their best shot forcing a corner straight after the Marlow goal which resulted in Cooper being booked after remonstrating rather too enthusiastically with the referee.

Wasps subbed Paget with Thompson as they attempted to change the game before Mason became the third away player in the book for a late tackle as frustration began to show.

United almost snatched a third goal with Bowler winning the ball back and hitting a 20 yard shot which hit the bar.

With time running out Marlow bought on Rowley, Wiltshire and Filmore for James Flint, Middleton and Buchanan to add fresh legs to the team.

It was the away team who pressed for most of the final 15 minutes, Cooper saving from Moakes and diving to push away an effort from Tallyn.

For all the late pressure the writing was on the wall and the home team saw out 5 minutes of injury time to record a satisfying win over the champions and keeping a clean sheet in the process.

A delighted manager Kevin Carvell said after the game “that was a superb display from us and we deserved the win. To become the first team to stop Wasps from scoring this season is the icing on the cake”

 Team

A Cooper, O flint, R Crawford, T Heywood, M Sciaraffa, C Coull, D Buchanan, R Middleton, J Bowler, L Brown, J Flint  subs  C Rowley, G Wiltshire, B Filmore.

 A Cooper  8

O Flint  8

 M Sciaraffa  8

R Crawford  8

T Heywood  8

C Coull  8

R Middleton  8

D Buchanan  8

J Bowler  8

L Brown 8

J Flint 8

Subs

C Rowley  8

G Wiltshire 8

B Filmore  8

MOM

All 14 players