SPORT ITALIA HELLENIC LEAGUE

DIVISION ONE EAST

PENALTY ANGUISH BUT UNITED

GO CLEAR AT THE TOP!

MARLOW UNITED – 1 HENLEY TOWN - 1

Marlow were left rueing a second half missed penalty in drawing a pulsating game against local rivals Henley Town and moving one point clear at the top of the table in the process.

When the referee awarded a spot kick seven minutes into the second half after midfielder Doug Buchanan was adjudged to have been fouled in the area it looked as if the home team may go on to take all three points.

Top scorer Ryan Davis stepped up to convert the kick but Henley keeper Michael Pratley guessed correctly diving to his left to keep out the ball which was subsequently cleared in the ensuing melee .

In fairness to the away team they fully deserved their point stretching United to the limit in a game that was a great advert for the Hellenic League.

As manager Kevin Carvell said after the game “That was a terrific game, Henley are a very good team who will soon rise up the table. I consider that a point gained rather than two lost and I am delighted that we are now sitting on top of the league”

United welcomed back captain Tristan Heywood after illness and slotted in Paul Catlin along side Tristan at centre back as they adjusted for missing players over the holiday period.

Lewis Brown was soon in the thick of the action suffering a knock on his ankle as early as 30 seconds chasing a through ball into the area.

Brown was again involved providing Lewis with a headed opportunity on 4 minutes as United took the game to their opponents.

Henley showed their intent as Russell hit a free kick wide before a Catlin free kick was punched clear by Pratley, the keeper seeing Bowlers return sailing over the bar.

Henley’s Brett Rann found himself in the clear after excellent build up play only to see the flag raised for off side.

Back came United with Lewis showing his tenacity in crossing the ball from the right only for none of his team mates to anticipate the cross.

Henley’s Rann was tackled just as he looked to shoot as the game swung from end to end.

Marlow began to apply the pressure with several corners and free kicks putting Henley on the back foot.

Bowler’s shot was blocked; Sciaraffa’s cross was cleared only for Heywood to return the ball into the area.

A Sciaraffa corner was cleared for Lewis to fire in a low shot which was eventually collected by Pratley.

Heywood came to Marlow’s rescue with a superb tackle as Henley broke quickly from a home free kick.

Then on 28 minutes United took the lead. Catlin’s throw from the right found Buchanan 20 yards out and the midfielder fired the ball into the left hand corner of the net with Pratley scrambling in vain.

The ex Henley player certainly enjoyed his moment of Glory.

The lead was to be short lived as Henley drew level five minutes later from the penalty spot.

In a quick counter attack Danny Cale received the ball on the left, evaded Catlin’s lunging tackle and swept the ball into the feet of Rann.

Before he could shoot he was tackled by Ollie Flint, unfairly in the view of the referee who immediately pointed to the spot.

Captain David Mills made no mistake firing the ball down the middle as Pollard dived to his right.

Henley kept up the pressure without seriously threatening the home side’s defence where as the home team looked more dangerous with Catlin’s long throw causing much anguish. From such a throw Brown volleyed over and from another Henley scrambled the ball away for a corner.

The experienced Bowler was involved in much of their play seeing several shots and crosses blocked.

The half ended with Heywood and Russell on the ground injured following a clash of heads after a Sciaraffa corner was cleared.

Half Time 1-1

United were soon on the attack as the half began.

A United free kick was cleared to Filmore who played the ball through to Brown. The Marlow forward was flattened on the edge of the area. On this occasion Mark Sciaraffa’s free kick flew over the wall only to be collected by Pratley.

Davis then failed to control the ball in mid field forcing Catlin into conceding a free kick on the edge of the area. Russell failed to trouble Pollard as his attempt sailed harmlessly wide.

On 52 minutes Bowler embarked on a run eventually finding Lewis on the right. His cross was met at the near post by Buchanan only to see the shot deflected for a corner.

The same player was fouled in the area as the corner reached him and the penalty was awarded and wasted.

Henley retaliated with Cale embarking on dangerous run only to lose control at the vital moment.

United replaced Lewis with Andy West as they attempted to stem the flow down the Henley left.

On 59 minutes a long ball from Filmore found Brown in the clear. The Marlow forward ran on only to see Pratley smother his attempt on the edge of the area.

Barn became the first player in the ref’s book on 67 minutes before United won a free kick, which Sciaraffa rolled, to Bowler. The Marlow man saw his cross-cleared with the ball being returned for West to have his header cleared.

Givens then rounded Sciaraffa at the other end only to fire his effort wide.

Cale ran at the Marlow defence having swapped to the right but his shot was wayward.

The game was swinging from end to end as both sides attempted to grab the winner and Marlow had occasion to thank Pollard on more than one occasion as he pulled off several brilliant saves.

Sub Ellis bought the best out of the Marlow custodian his stinging drive being pushed away at the left hand upright for a corner before Barn fired in a long-range effort.

Pollard then found himself involved in a scuffle with Henley’s Toomey. After collecting a header by the post both players became entangled and in the ensuing melee both players found themselves in the book.

Henley were now pressuring the United defence and Cale again bought the best out of Pollard who brilliantly tipped away his rising drive.

United then missed a great opportunity to snatch the points as Bowler and sub Cuva combined to gain a corner on the right in the 43^rd minute.

Sciaraffa’s kick found West unmarked on the edge of the 6 yard box but his header looped over the crossbar with the goal at his mercy.

A further United corner was cleared before Henley almost snatched the points themselves, Barn embarking on a run through the midfield the ball arriving at the feet of Warwick on the edge of the area.

The Henley sub fired the ball over the bar in what was the last meaningful action of the game.

A draw was a fitting result after an entertaining game. It was also enough to take United one point clear at the top of the league, dislodging Chalfont from the top spot for the first time this season.

With an away game at Eton Wick the next fixture Marlow could well go into the new year proudly sitting astride the division, a remarkable achievement for the Bucks club in only their second season at this level.

Team Pollard, Flint, Heywood, Catlin, Sciaraffa, Bowler, Buchanan, Filmore, Lewis, Davis, Brown. Subs used; West

M Pollard                                          7  Two superb saves

O Flint                                               7  excellent game

M Sciaraffa                                      7  Experience and class

T Heywood                                       8  Dominant

P Catlin                                             7  Excellent defensive display

J Bowler                                           8 Cool head

B Filmore                                         7 Non stop

D Buchanan                                     7 brilliant goal

K Lewis                                            6  Faded after bright start

L Brown                                            7 Always a threat

R Davis                                             6  Just off the pace

 Subs

V Cuva                                            6 added pace to the attack

A West                                            7  Intelligent play

MOM

J Bowler