DIVISION
ONE EAST
MAGNIFICENT MARLOW
ENGLEFIELD
GREEN ROVERS – 0 MARLOW UNITED - 3
Marlow completed a marvellous Easter weekend with this comprehensive victory over challengers Englefield.
With other results going their way this victory makes the Bucks club outright favourites for the runners up spot and with it promotion to the Premier Division.
Playing against a side who notched four goals without reply against champions Bisley in their last game United not only ran out worthy winners they also inflicted Rovers largest home defeat of the season so far.
The home team played down the slope in the first half on a cold wintry day, which again saw snow and sleet whipping across an open playing field.
Marlow began in a purposeful mood winning an early free kick that Rovers cleared.
Back came United with the dangerous James Flint heading brother Ollie Flint’s cross wide as the away team took the game to their opponents.
In the 3rd minute a Rowley free kick was headed over by Heywood and it was yet again a Rowley free kick that resulted in the first corner of the game as home keeper Phillips fumbled the ball over the line.
The corner was cleared to Buchanan, his shot across the goal being deflected for a goal kick by the predatory Lewis Brown from within the six-yard box.
A huge kick down the slope by Phillips found Harriott in the danger area and it required a quick interception from the United defence to send the ball out for a throw on.
Rovers were conceding a number of free kicks and yet again Rowley sent a kick into the area where Heywood tested Phillips with a shot from 18 yards.
Rowley was in action at the other end intercepting a cross from Whatford, the ball going for Rovers first corner of the match which Sanford headed wide when well placed.
Heywood then cleared the ball off the line from Sperling as the home team began to exert some pressure on the United defence.
The home team invited more pressure on themselves conceding further free kicks as both James Flint and Lewis Brown ran at the defence ably backed by a dominant midfield.
United deservedly took the lead on 20 minutes with a four man move involving Brown, Coull, James Flint and finally Doug Buchanan who rifled home the ball from around 12 yards.
Englefield then put together their best moves of the game as they strove to equalise.
Whatford combined with Harriott before firing wide and shortly after Andy Murdoch found Whatford and his cross found the head of Harriott only to see the effort blocked.
Englefield were awarded a free quick for a foul on Hedges and Marlow custodian Cooper had trouble in collecting Murdoch’s effort.
Rovers kept the pressure on the Marlow defence with Sean Stevens firing in a snap shot from 25 yards.
Sciarraffa was booked for a late tackle as the pressure mounted although United did manage to break dangerously on the counter attack.
Stevens and Whatford set up Harriott who fired over the bar before a Whatford corner was met by Stevens who saw his effort cleared off the line by Adam North.
Heywood then came to the rescue clearing the ball in a last ditch tackle as the half ended with a corner on the left to Rovers.
HT 0-1
Leading one nil and with the slope in their favour Marlow looked to seal the points in the second half.
A first minute corner from Rowley saw the ball blasted goal ward three times as Rovers desperately defended their goal.
Rob Crawford was alert in clearing an Englefield counter attack before Whatford fired an effort wide.
Cooper half cleared a through ball as Crawford again came to rescue, clearing under pressure.
Rowley won an important tackle robbing Hedges and releasing James Flint, his shot being blocked.
Two Rover players found themselves in the book as they became frustrated at their inability to break their goal drought and on 64 minutes that frustration boiled over as United increased their lead in controversial circumstances.
Buchanan played the ball down the left to Brown. He ran to the bye line before pulling the ball back into the path of James Flint who slotted home the second goal with the Rovers defenders all claiming that the ball had crossed the line before Brown had crossed.
After consulting his assistant the referee allowed the goal although it did appear that the linesman was not in a position to pass judgement on the validity of Rovers appeal.
Obviously upset with this setback the home team hit back gaining two corners in quick succession, Heywood clearing the first and Crawford the second.
Harriot then shot wide before Rowley got himself booked for arguing with the ref.
United then sealed the points on 76 minutes as Brown received the Ball on the United right he burst into the area evading a scything challenge from Sanford only to see his shot blocked on the line.
Much to the relief of the away team the referee had already blown for the spot kick and Rowley capped a fine afternoon by sending the ball past Phillips.
A save by Cooper from a Sperling back heel and a volleyed effort by Sanford from six yards which flew over the bar were as close as Englefield came to a consolation as United gave Wiltshire, Sepede and Filmore run outs as the game drew to a close.
As it was Marlow had the last word, a Sepede cross finding Wiltshire in the six yard box only for the experienced Marlow man to head over with the goal at his mercy.
A delighted Marlow manager commented after the game “We are playing our best football of the season at the moment, all the boys are looking forward to challenges ahead. This could be an exciting end to the season”
With Chalfont Wasps finally losing their unbeaten tag to Bisley Marlow’s win means the Wasps will have to keep the champagne on ice at least until Saturday.
Team.
A Cooper, A North, R Crawford, T Heywood, M Sciaraffa, O Flint, C Rowley, D Buchanan, C Coull, L Brown, J Flint. Subs G Wiltshire, R Sepede, B Filmore.
Scores
A Cooper 7
A North 7
R Crawford 8
T Heywood 9
M Sciaraffa 7
O Flint 7
C Rowley 8
D Buchanan 7
C Coull 7
L Brown 8
J Flint 7
Subs
Wiltshire 6
Sepede 6
Filmore 6
MOM