SPORT ITALIA HELLENIC LEAGUE

DIVISION ONE EAST

END OF SEASON FARE

Finchampstead - 0 Marlow United – 1

They say the ability to win when playing poorly is the sign of a good team.

On that basis United are a good team as for the second game running they came away with the points having performed well below par.

Perhaps they can be excused having already been promoted or maybe it’s the constant changes to the team as the manager gives all the players a chance to stake a claim for a place in the Reading Senior Cup semi final. On this occasion having to play on a sloping uneven surface owing to Finchampstead’s regular pitch being out of service probably had an adverse effect on the game.

What ever it was United turned in a poor performance and can thank their opponents for their ineptitude in front of goal, particularly in the second half when chance after chance went begging.

As for the first period little of consequence occurred until the 40th minute when Tom Hopper hit the post for the home team and the several baffling decisions by the referee and his assistants.

 Hopper proved to be a thorn in the side of United as he put in an impressive 90 minutes.

The game was won in the 75th minute with an excellent strike from James Flint that was completely out of context with the rest of the game.

Receiving the ball from sub Jason Bowler the striker ran on and struck an accurate drive from around 20 yards that left Mortlock stranded.

After that Marlow had to with stand a late onslaught from the home team and only they will know how they did not score.

With dusk drawing in the referee ended proceedings to leave United with yet another three points.

Manager Kevin Carvell said after the match “We didn’t play today but we still won. The sign of a good team?”

Team: M Pollard, B Filmore, A North, T Heywood, M Sciaraffa, D Buchanan, M Flint, C Coull, C Rowley, J Flint, G Wiltshire Subs. J Bowler, D Pedley, O Flint.

 M Pollard          6

B Filmore          6

A North              6

T Heywood       7

M Sciaraffa  6

D Buchanan  6

M Flint  7

C Coull  6

C Rowley  6

J Flint  7

G Wiltshire  7

 

Subs

J Bowler  6

D Pedley  6

O Flint  6

 

 MOM

 James Flint