HOLIDAY BLUES FOR MARLOW

FTL FUTBOL HELLENIC

PREMIER DIVISION

Binfield - 3 Marlow United - 0

Marlow were bought back down to earth following Saturdays five goal rout of Hook Norton as they were swept aside by a powerful and well organised Binfield side at Stubbs Lane.

Fielded a side containing no fewer than six changes from the previous game United were never at the races, going behind within the first minute as Binfield’s Gary Sargeant reacted quickest to head home from close range after Ben Lydon’s shot cannoned of the bar with the blue’s defence in disarray.

Marlow replied with skipper for the day Dan Pedley seeing his cross cleared by Millward in what proved to be a rare excursion into the home team’s penalty area.

With Mason and Dixon unable to make any impression on the home team back four and the midfield being dominated by Suarez Marlow were simply being outfought and outplayed.

The makeshift central defensive pairing of Benyon and assistant manager Wiltshire struggled manfully but had keeper Murray to thank for keeping the score line respectable as the custodian produced several excellent saves as the pressure continued.

Even he could not prevent the second goal on 24 minutes as the Marlow defence was caught out following Benyon’s poor clearance, Lydon’s cross finding an unmarked Jermaine Gumbs  who fired past Murray from 8 yards.

A Sargeant cross was then fired wide by Lydon as the home team continued the onslaught with a Gumbs shot being saved by Murray on the half hour.

Marlow almost snatched a goal against the run of the play when good work down their left saw Ollie Flint’s cross volleyed over by Scot Webb from 6 yards with only the keeper to beat.

The away team gained their first corner of the game on 33 minutes but Masons kick only found keeper Adams.

The half ended with the home team applauded off by a healthy crowd of 169.

HT

2-0

Any hopes of a comeback for United were extinguished within two minutes of the start of the second period when Binfield’s Moore won the ball and released the dangerous Gumbs who slotted the ball past Murray.

At 3-0 the game was as good as over and with the temperature soaring the home team seemed content to sit on their lead safe in the knowledge that the three points were in the bag.

United had replaced the injured Pedley with Paget at half time and Greg Corbett was sent on to replace Benyon soon after shortly followed by Andy Nicholl for the ineffective Mason.

The changes had little effect on the game although Nicholl did at last provide a physical challenge for the Binfield back four, winning most of the aerial duals despite playing with a knee injury.

Lee Ovens found himself in the book as he bought down an attacker with Wiltshire lying injured.

Murray saved from Lydon on 71 minutes before a Nichol run and pass saw Flint test keeper Adams.

Wiltshire was booked on 89 minutes following an innocuous foul and Murray was once more called into action, saving yet again from Lydon as the game came to its conclusion.

Few of the Marlow players emerged with much credit from what was their worst performance of the season to date and in truth they were flattered by a 3-0 scoreline..

FT

3-0

Team

Murray, Ovens, Benyon, Wiltshire, Britnell, Pedley, Buchanan, Flint, Webb, Mason, Dixon.

Subs

Paget for Pedley 45 minutes

Corbett for Benyon 48 minutes

Nichol for Mason 52 minutes

Booked

Ovens 58 minutes

Wiltshire 84 minutes

Scores

C Murray   7

L Ovens  6

R Britnell  4

G Wiltshire  6

S Benyon  4

D Pedley  5

D Buchanan  4

O Flint  6

S Webb  5

J Mason  4

L Dixon  4

Subs

C Paget  5

G Corbett  5

A Nichol  6

Man of the Match

CARL MURRAY