ALLS WELL AT ABINGDON
FTL FUTBOL HELLENIC
PREMIER DIVISION
Abingdon Town 1 Marlow United 2
Marlow bounced back from Saturday’s home defeat by Oxford with a professional performance at Abindgon Town resulting in a 2-1 victory.
With Leigh Mason, Ben Filmore and Andy Nicol returning to the side and Gary Wiltshire dropping to centre half Marlow turned in a much improved performance and had they converted the chances they created then they could well have won by three or four goals.
Abingdon began the game the more positive of the two sides winning two early corners as they applied the pressure on the United back four.
In fact the home team were playing some excellent football as United were often left chasing shadows as the ball was moved quickly around the park.
Despite this territorial advantage it was the away team who threatened to open the scoring on 10 minutes, Leigh Mason receiving Pedleys pass and seeing his shot blocked with Nicol unable to reach the rebound.
Abingdon hit back with Wiltshire clearing a free kick from the 6 yard box after Murray missed his punch and 2 minutes later Moss fired a free kick just wide as the home team kept up the pressure.
Marlow then came close to opening the scoring with Nicol charging down a clearance and firing his shot at the keeper Walker and Jon Mason running to the bye line and attempting a shot when a cross could have found brother Leigh free in the box.
5 minutes later a move instigated by Wiltshire ended with Leigh Mason seeing his effort from 15 yards saved by Walker, this after an interchange with brother Jon had left him free in the area.
Nicol saw his effort saved before Ollie Flint should have opened the scoring when free in the area, his first effort being parried by Walker and his second effort from the rebound hitting the top of the crossbar.
At the other end the Marlow back four looked comfortable as they snuffed out the Abingdon forward threat until the 41st minute when Brooks escaped the attentions of Pedley, his cross finding an unmarked Edney inside the 6 yard box.
Unfortunately for Abingdon the forwards shot lacked power and Murray made an instinctive save on the line, pushing the ball out for a corner.
Marlow finished the half with Jon Mason seeing his shot blocked following a run into the area.
HT 0-0
Abingdon’s Stuart Douglas found himself in the ref’s book after 2 minutes of the half following a clumsy tackle on Ollie Flint, a decision which he would come to regret later in the game.
With the slope in their favour it was the away team who were in the ascendency as they looked to open the scoring.
Leigh Mason played a delightful chip over the defence only for Ollie Flint to be caught offside as he moved in on goal.
Murray was called into action on the hour, pushing a dangerous cross over the bar as Abingdon threatened, Moss’s corner being fired wide by Barson when well placed.
Nicol then set up Chris Paget with a header, the latter seeing his shot blocked as Marlow retaliated before they took the lead on 66 minutes.
Lee Ovens played the ball over the defence where Ollie Flint collected the pass and fired in a shot that was blocked, the ball falling at the feet of Nicol who made no mistake from close range.
United were now in control of the match, Leigh Mason seeing his stinging 20 yard shot saved and then firing wide from the same range.
Abingdon were reduced to 10 men on 70 minutes, Douglas again chopping down Ollie Flint to receive his second caution of the game and a subsequent red card.
United replaced the injured Flint with Adam Harman and it was the substitute who doubled United’s lead on 78 minutes, his deft header from Jon Mason’s cross guiding the ball into the Abingdon net.
Marlow looked to be heading for a comfortable win only for Abingdon to snatch a goal on 89 minutes as the ball was played across the Marlow area, Ryan Brooks eventually driving into the box and firing past Murray to give the home team a sniff of saving the game.
Marlow should have added a 3rd as the game entered injury time with a three on one attack which ended with Harman taking the ball into the area only to fire weakly at Walker.
Shortly after the referee signalled full time as Marlow celebrated third consecutive win on the road.
FT 1-2
Team
Murray, Ovens, Wiltshire, N Flint, Pedley, J Mason, Filmore, Paget, O Flint, L Mason, Nicol
Subs
A Harman for O Flint 71 minutes
R Middleton for J Mason 80 minutes
G Corbett for B Filmore 85 minutes
Scorer’s
A Nicol 66 minutes
A Harman 79 minutes
Scores
C Murray 7
L Ovens 7
G Wiltshire 8
N Flint 7
D Pedley 7
J Mason 7
B Filmore 7
C Paget 7
O Flint 7
L Mason 7
A Nicol 7
Subs
A Harman 7
R Middleton 6
G Corbett 6
Man of the Match
GARY WILTSHIRE