HOLDERS BOW OUT WITH HONOUR

FTL FUTBOL HELLENIC

PREMIER DIVISION

Almondsbury Town - 4 Marlow United - 3

Marlow made the long journey down the M4 to Almondsbury in atrocious conditions with a scratch team arriving 30 minutes before kick off as they began their defence of the Floodlit Cup.

The fact that they eventually lost by the odd goal of seven speaks volumes for the players who made that trip as they made favourites Almondsbury fight all the way in an entertaining game.

Playing in their change strip of orange and black United began the game uncertainly, the home team making all the early running and deservedly taking the lead on 10 minutes as Dean Maynard knocked the ball over the goal line from point blank range after keeper Ramsey misjudged a header from a free kick allowing the striker his opportunity.

At this stage it looked as if a heavy defeat was on the cards as Whittington saw Ramsey save his effort and Waldron had his effort blocked following a corner.

Marlow’s first serious scoring chance arrived on 22 minutes with Nicol volleying over from a Mason corner, this after the same forward had forced a save from Jones with a speculative lob.

Almondsbury replied with dangerous winger Cai seeing his shot saved after riding two tackles before Whittington then saw a shot blocked.

 United began to settle into the game and even with four reserve players they were matching the home team in effort and winning a fair share of possession.

They eventually equalised on 46 minutes with 17 year old Jamie West rounding off a  move down the right, Nicol heading on Walters long clearance to West who took the ball into the area and slotted a shot past Jones whilst under pressure.

The referee then played an inexplicable 9 minutes of extra time finally calling half time on 54 minutes.

HT 1-1

Marlow shocked the home team on 50 minutes with West again finding the target, this time from a narrow angle after Masons corner found the youngster free on the right.

United now looked the more likely winners Webb firing in an effort and Ollie Flint seeing his 20 yard effort narrowly missing the left hand post.

Marlow looked in control of proceedings for a long period only for sub Kris Davis to lay the ball into the path of Cai from a free kick, the winger evading a desperate tackle before firing home an unstoppable shot from 18 yards to equalise on 66 minutes.

Davis then snatched the lead outpacing Nick Flint to a through ball and firing past Ramsey two minutes later.

The same player then set up Cai for the fourth goal on 72 minutes, his cross picking out the forward who scored from around 8 yards.

In a devastating 6 minute spell the home team turned a one goal deficit into a two goal lead and the game looked dead but Marlow refused to lie down.

 Having weathered the storm they hit back on 82 minutes with West supplying a cross for Nicol to out jump the Almond’s defence with a well directed header looping over Jones.

Ramsey kept United in the game with a superb one handed save from Davis on 84 minutes and soon after Nicol looked to have equalised only for his 20 yard effort to drift agonisingly wide of the post.

Ramsey pushed Whittington’s shot over for a corner as the game ended with a narrow win for the home team after an entertaining cup tie.

Manager Kevin Carvell praised his players after the game saying “We lost but we can hold our heads up after that performance.

The lads that came in all acquitted themselves well and even when we went two down I still felt we were in the game against what is a very good team”

FT

4-3

Team. Ramsey, Walters, Ovens, N Flint, Webb, J Mason, D Flint, Rowley, O Flint, West, Nicol

Sub

B Filmore for Walters76 minutes

Booked

N Flint

S Walters

M Ramsey

Goals

J West 46, 50 minutes

A Nicol 82 minutes

Scores

M Ramsey  7

S Walters  7

L Ovens  8

N Flint  7

S Webb  7

J Mason  7

D Flint  7

C Rowley  8

O Flint  7

J West  8

A Nicol  8

Sub  B Filmore  7

Man of the Match

JAMIE WEST