SPORT ITALIA HELLENIC LEAGUE

DIVISION ONE EAST

ONE MIGHTY LEAP…

HOLYPORT – 1 MARLOW UNITED - 3

Marlow deservedly took the spoils in this important top of the table clash with a comprehensive victory over Holyport at a windswept Summerleaze.

It’s Easter so it must be spring, right! Unfortunately some one forgot to mention this to the weatherman as just about everything was thrown at the two teams.

A hurricane blowing down the pitch was followed by rain, sleet, snow and sunshine all in the space of 90 minutes.

As it was the Marlow team weathered the first half conditions, turning round at 1-1 having had the better of the chances despite battling into the gale.

Marlow keeper Cooper had to be alert saving from close range after Chris Woods found himself in space from a long clearance in the first minute.

The Bucks side responded with Ollie Flint firing a cross through to Bowler who saw his shot blocked.

A minute later a pass from Middleton set James Flint free and the Marlow forward coolly placed his shot over the advancing Carter in the Port goal for the opening goal.

Back came the home team and Sciaraffa was penalised for obstructing Jones as he moved in on goal.

Emlyn Hill’s free kick skidded off the wall for a corner, which was eventually cleared by the United defence.

The atrocious weather and heavy conditions meant that the game was never going to be a classic but Marlow were playing some neat football on the counter attack with James Flint, Coull and Bowler looking dangerous up front and Rowley and Middleton dictating the midfield areas.

Bowler and Coull both tested Carter and Flint was a constant thorn in the side of the Holyport defence with his ability to run at defenders.

The home side attempted to use the conditions in their favour often leaving Woods deep in their opponents half from long clearances. With Sam Jones giving Sciaraffa a testing time down the right flank and Hill pushing forward from the midfield Holyport always looked capable of scoring.

It was from a miss placed Rowley header on 18 minutes that the dangerous Woods was set free, Cooper once more saving United, this time with his feet.

Three minutes later a dangerous cross from Sion evaded everyone in the six yard box and a grateful Marlow defence cleared the ball.

United countered with a three man move between James Flint, Rowley and Middleton the latter’s shot being miss hit.

When Holyport finally equalised it owed much to the conditions.

A clearance from the left on 34 minutes by Carter caught the wind and with United keeper Cooper anticipating the flight the ball suddenly dropped at the feet of an unmarked Woods.

The Holyport man spotted the empty goal and quick as a flash guided the ball into the net from around 20 yards, a real poachers goal.

Holyport almost snatched the lead 6 minutes later when a Woods cross evaded Sion and Jones fired over from 18 yards.

United had the last attack of the half, Filmore and James Flint setting up Coull, his shot being cleared.

HT 1-1

With the wind now at their backs it was the away team who dictated the play.

Using the full width of the pitch they created numerous chances throughout the half, Bowler on the left being a particular thorn in the Berkshire teams side.

Holyport began the half with a free kick from the left of the United area, Sion missing within the six yard box.

United then began to take control, James Flint’s seeing an effort hit a defenders hand from close range, the referee rightly denying the penalty appeals.

It only delayed the inevitable though as from Bowlers corner on the left Crawford rose above the defence to head home the second goal, time 50^th minute.

Holyport replied with a run by Dan Rapley his cross being fired over by Jones.

Ollie Flint then finished of a three man move for United with an overhead kick which ran through to Carter.

Hill tested Cooper with a snap shot on 53 minutes before Marlow scored the crucial third goal.

A cross from the right by Filmore in the 65^th minute caused a deal of panic in the Holyport box and when the ball was cleared to the feet of James Flint on the right edge of the area he promptly fired the ball past Carter and into the net.

At 3-1 United assumed a control of the game, a control they never lost apart from a few scares at the other end.

Marlow played some excellent football constantly frustratingly their opponents with their possession.

Rowley followed Bowler into the ref’s notebook after a flare up with Druce, an incident out of keeping in what was a sporting game.

Adam North replaced a tiring Sciarraffa for his debut game, having signed in the week from Penn and Tylers Green, slotting in smoothly at left back.

On 77 minutes Holyport had probably their best chance of pulling back a goal, when Jones fired over from a corner on the left.

Marlow sub Rino Sepede saw his shot deflected for a corner after a good run before Holyport made a double substitution replacing Deverall and Rapley with Waldron and Stokes in one last throw of the dice.

It was all to no avail though as United comfortably saw out the final few minutes too record the double over their rivals and take a giant step toward the runners up spot.

After the game manager Kevin Carvell said “We played excellently today and deserved the win. We’ve probably assembled our strongest squad this season with some massive games to come which will decide the runners up spot”

Team

A Cooper, B Filmore, R Crawford, T Heywood, M Sciaraffa, O Flint, R Middleton, C Rowley, J Bowler, C Coull, J Flint.

Subs. A North, L Brown, R Sepede.

Scores

A Cooper 6

B Filmore  7

M Sciarraffa  6

R Crawford  7

T Heywood  8

O Flint  7

R Middleton  7

C Rowley  7

J Bowler  8

C Coull  7

J Flint  8

Subs

A North  7

L Brown  6

R Sepede  6

MOM

JAMES FLINT