READING SENIOR CUP

QUARTER FINAL

WASHED OUT BUT STILL THERE...JUST!

MARLOW UNITED – 2 WOODCOTE SR – 2

(Match Abandoned Waterlogged Pitch)

Marlow’s hopes of a sixth visit to the Madejski stadium hung by a thread as the home side and favourites pulled back a second half two goal deficit against Woodcote Stoke Row to keep the dream alive.

After a pulsating 90 minutes and with United finally on level terms and looking to go on and win the tie in extra time the referee abandoned the game.

The quarterfinal tie was played in appalling conditions on a pitch resembling a mud bath with a strong wind and heavy showers making football almost impossible.

The referee decided that the game should proceed and it was the Reading League side that looked the more dangerous using the strong wind to gain the upper hand and dominate the first 45 minutes.

Woodcote were consistently quicker to the ball as the home team struggled to make any impact on their opponents defence with only Lewis Brown’s pace threatening to make a breakthrough for Marlow.

United’s defence held firm with Heywood and Crawford prominent and the home team were grateful to go in at half time with out conceding.

HT 0-0

 With the wind and rain at their backs the home side took the game to their opponents and it looked only a matter of time before they took the lead.

As it was Woodcote found them selves in the lead after Cooper miscued his clearance straight to Chris Clarke and he promptly returned the ball over his head and into the goal on 52 minutes.

Stung by the reverse Marlow continued the assault only to fall for a second counter attack with Clarke scoring from close range on the hour.

A double substitution 5 minutes later proved to be the turning point as Cuva and Middleton replaced Buchanan and Pedley.

With Middleton bossing the midfield and Cuva running at the Woodcote defence the tie turned in the 73rd minute when Bowler curled a free kick around the defensive wall and past Silver in the Woodcote goal.

Sub Rino Sepede finally notched the equaliser on 87 minutes after Cuva twice bought the best out of Silver forcing corners on both occasions.

It was from the second of these that Sepede headed the ball over the line after an almighty scramble in the six yard box.

The game eventually ended all square and as both teams prepared for extra time the official made the decision to abandon the game.

After the game manager Kevin Carvell expressed his dismay at the decision “How was the pitch any more unplayable on 90 minutes than it was at half time?  We did brilliantly to come back from two down and in my opinion we would have gone on to win the game had the referee not made his decision to abandon the tie. We now have the difficulty of fitting in an extra game in an already crowded fixture list.”

A Cooper                  6

B Filmore                   6

M Sciaraffa                6

T Heywood               7

R Crawford               7

J Bowler                    6

D Buchanan               6

M Flint                       6

D Pedley                    6

L Brown                    7

G Wilshire                  6

Subs

V Cuva                      7

R Middleton               7

R Sepede                   7

 MOM

LEWIS BROWN