TEN MEN MARLOW TRIUMPH

FTL FUTBOL HELLENIC

PREMIER DIVISION

Marlow United - 1 Abingdon Town - 0

Marlow pulled off a marvellous win, defeating relegation rivals Abington Town by a single goal despite playing for the final hour with ten men, Nick Flint receiving a straight red after appearing to butt Abingdon’s Larman in an off the ball incident, the Abingdon player being shown a yellow card for the same offence.

Despite this set back the home team reorganised and having been on the back foot for most of the first 25 minutes began to take the game to their opponents.

Marlow had begun the game on the front foot, two early long throws from Lewis Brown putting the Abingdon defence under pressure.

The busy Dickens was put through by Mason on two minutes, his effort being saved by keeper Walker before the away team saw their first effort from Simms placed wide.

A free kick from Abingdon was cleared only for Murray to tip a shot from Thomas over the bar.

From the resultant corner Simms headed narrowly over as Abingdon continued to press.

Murray was in action again saving a shot from Fowler before the dismissal of Flint changed the pattern of the game with the unfortunate Brown being subbed for defender Ian Green as manager Kevin Carvell reshuffled his team.

Marlow now began to look the more dangerous side, creating several dangerous moves as they broke quickly.

It was from such a break that they scored what ultimately proved to be the winning goal on 47 minutes.

 Following an Abingdon corner the ball was cleared to Andy Nicol who chipped the ball over the Town defence into the path of Adam Dickens.

He ran forward before firing a shot past a startled Walker from 20 yards to give United the half time lead.

HT

1-0

Marlow began the second half on the attack forcing a corner in the first minute, followed up by a second corner minutes later as they kept up the pressure.

Inevitably Abingdon began to apply the pressure playing as they were with an extra man.

Simms fired over from 12 yards following a Fowler free kick on 57 minutes with Thomas heading a good opportunity wide two minutes later from a corner.

Marlow continued to threaten on the break with Mason and Dickens both having goal efforts.

Ben Filmore was bought on to bolster the midfield at the expense of Jon Mason as manager Carvell attempted to defend the lead with Abingdon becoming increasingly desperate as they saw three precious points slipping away.

Their final chance saw a long range effort from sub Danny Morgan tipped over by Murray on 90 minutes before the home team celebrated winning what could prove to be a vital three points come the final reckoning.

Manager Kevin Carvell was full of praise for his team.

“I was proud of the way we battled back after losing Nick Flint and felt that we fully deserved to take the three points”

FT 1-0

Team

Murray, Pedley, Britnell, Benyon, Flint, Dickens, Middleton, Coull, Nicol, Mason, Brown.

Subs

I Green for L Brown

B Filmore for J Mason

Booked

Pedley

Coull

Flint Sent off

Goal

Dickens 47 minutes

Scores

K Murray  7

D Pedley  7

R Britnell  7

S Benyon  7

N Flint  5

A Dickens  8

R Middleton  7

C Coull  7

A Nicol  8

J Mason  7

L Brown  6

Subs

I Green 7

B Filmore  6

Man of the Match

ADAM DICKENS