SPORT
ITALIA HELLENIC LEAGUE
DIVISION
ONE EAST
CHINNOR
- 1 MARLOW UNITED - 2
Marlow
finished of the season on a winning note when coming from behind to defeat a
spirited Chinnor team. They ended the season nine points clear of Englefield in
third place and with the fewest goals conceded in the league.
Fielding
a much-changed side yet again United found them selves on the back foot early
on. It was Ryan Davis, still Marlow’s top scorer, lining up on the opposition
side having returned to the Chinnor fold who first threatened the United back
four on 6 minutes. He met a cross from the right only to see his volley fly over
the bar.
Two
minutes later Marlow gained their first corner of the game, Rowley’s kick
being dropped by Orkney and hastily cleared.
Rowley’s
free kick a minute later was safely collected by the home keeper.
Davis
was having an excellent game for Chinnor and it was he who set up Jones only for
his cross to be collected by Cooper in the Marlow goal.
Davis
took a short corner on 15 minutes playing the ball to Avery his cross being hit
wide by Braun as Chinnor continued to press United.
Cooper
and Lanaway found themselves in a mix up as the keepers pass left the full back
in trouble, the ball eventually going for a corner.
Reno
Sepede found himself on the wrong end of a brutal tackle from Chinnor’s
Cracker, the latter leaving his boot in the midriff of the Marlow forward and
pole axing him in the process.
On 26
minutes Chinnor took the lead as a corner from the left was met by the head of
Jones at the near post who guided the ball past Cooper and into the net.
Marlow
responded with a Pedley run and cross which Rowley fired wide.
United’s
best chance fell to Adam North on 40 minutes who volleyed over from 15 yards
when a Rowley corner on the left found the centre half unmarked in the area.
HT
1-0
Marlow
bought Andy West for Matt Flint, switching Middleton to central midfield as they
attempted to rest the initiative from the home side.
Davis
missed the target with Cooper out of his goal on 50 minutes as Chinnor created
the first opportunity of the half.
It
was the away team who began to dominate proceedings as the half progressed,
Pedley winning the ball in midfield, his pass finding Sepede who fired over.
Keeper
Cooper was caught out again as he rushed of his line and he was grateful to see
Crawford save his side winning a crucial tackle.
The
defender injured his foot in the process and was replaced by Ollie Flint with
Middleton slotting into the back four.
Marlow
continued to look the more dangerous side and the dangerous Lewis Brown was
fouled in the area on 71 minutes with Rowley stepping forward and slotting home
the spot kick to level the scores.
United
looked to seal the points and it was West who found Ollie Flint, his header then
sending Brown clear on the right.
The
Marlow forward advanced on the goal and fired home an unstoppable shot past
Orkney and into the goal giving Marlow the lead on 80 minutes.
With
the game drawing to a conclusion Chinnor piled on the pressure, Filmore clearing
the ball from the goal line after a corner on the right.
West
broke out of defence shooting over the bar after his run at goal
as
Marlow threatened on the break.
With
the referee adding a total of 5 minutes extra time it was the away team who had
the last meaningful action with Sepede firing over in the last minute before the
official eventually blew the final whistle.
United
finished their second season in the league with just 4 defeats in 32 games and
seven points behind the Champions Chalfont Wasps a truly remarkable outcome for
this small club and a testament to its players and management team.
Team: A
Cooper, B Filmore, R Crawford, A North, A Lanaway, R Middleton, C Rowley, Matt
Flint, D Pedley, L Brown R Sepede, Subs. A West, O Flint.
A
Cooper 6
B Filmore
7
R Crawford
7
A North
7
A Lanaway
6
R Middleton
7
C Rowley
6
M Flint
6
D Pedley
7
L Brown
8
R Sepede
7
Subs
A West
7
O Flint
7
MOM
Lewis
Brown