MARLOW SLUMP TO DEFEAT
FTL FUTBOL HELLENIC
PREMIER DIVISION
Abingdon Town 1 Marlow United 0
Marlow slumped to a disappointing defeat at Culham Road as on a wind swept evening they found themselves second best to the home team who deservedly took the points in a scrappy encounter.Fielding a much changed side through holidays and work commitments the away team never really came to grips with Abingdon’s formation who with Osbourne – Ricketts running the midfield in the first 45 minutes deservedly led by a single goal at half time. In truth it could have been a different story had Nick Flint’s angled shot gone in rather than rattling the crossbar after Mark Doswell’s 18 yard free kick had cannoned of the defensive wall on 9 minutes. In fact Flint could have opened the scoring on 5 minutes, his mazy run into the area ending with a miss hit shot when well placed.After that it was pretty well all Abingdon as they were quicker to the ball all over the park and when Fowler’s 25th minute free kick from the left caused panic in the United defence Louis George nipped in to stab the ball home from three yards with Murray and Green both rooted to the ground.The goal only served to inspire the home team as they dominated most of the play, Marlow being unable to string two passes together. The home team were grateful to the referee on 33 minutes as Heywood burst through the Abingdon back line, being bought down as he powered goal wards only for the official to wave play on much to the disgust of the felled player. That apart United never troubled keeper Walker as the half ended with Abingdon in the lead, in fact they probably felt grateful that the deficit was only a single goal such was the home teams dominance. Although United improved slightly in the second half they rarely look like pulling back the deficit. Forwards Lewis Brown and James Pritchard were starved of decent ball making it a very frustrating evening for both. Gary Wiltshire and new signing Carl Reeve were introduced in an effort to retrieve the situation and both players contributed to United at least applying some concerted pressure in the last 15 minutes of the game, Reeve in particular adding some stability to the defence. As it was a Wiltshire free kick on 88 minutes was headed narrowly wide by Crawford with Walker beaten that almost snatched a point for United but all in all they can have little cause for complaint on the final whistle. With only two goals scored from 4 games it is clear were the problems lie, a situation that must be improved if the team are to make any impression in the league.Manager Kevin Carvell said after the game “Very disappointing team performance as well as some disappointing individual performances. We got what we deserved on the night”
Team C Murray, L Ovens , R Britnell, R Crawford, I Green, T Heywood, N Flint, M Doswell , L Brown, J Flint, D FlintSubsC Reeve for I Green 64 minutes G Wiltshire for M Doswell 67 minutes
Man of the Match
LEE OVENS