A GAME OF TWO HALVES
FTL FUTBOL HELLENIC
PREMIER DIVISION
Marlow United - 3 Harrow Hill - 2
A superb hat trick from assistant manager Gary Wiltshire saw Marlow take all three points in a disappointing game at Wilks Park against bottom placed Harrow Hill.
In a game of two contrasting halves the home team cantered into a three goal lead in the first 30 minutes and could have gone into the break with double that lead so comprehensively had they dominated the game.
How that changed in the second period as Marlow allowed Harrow back into the game and were eventually grateful for the final whistle as the Gloucester team reduced the deficit to one goal with two minutes to play.
Harrow arrived at the ground only to realise there was a clash of colours with the shorts and socks of both teams being sky blue.
Marlow hastily loaned there landlords change kit and thus it was in all green that the away team took to the field.
It took little time for the home team to stamp there authority on the proceedings with Wiltshire slamming home the ball for the first goal in the first minute after Lanaway’s corner was laid into the scorer by Lewis Brown.
Marlow dominated the early exchanges with Brown and Bowler testing the Harrow defence.
Two quick corners on eleven minutes added to the pressure with Crawford seeing his header cleared on the first of these.
United doubled their lead four minutes later, Bowler’s cross from the left finding Brown who in turn set up Wiltshire who gratefully scored his and the teams second goal.
Apart from a long range effort from Freeman the away team seldom threatened the Marlow goal and it was Wiltshire who almost notched his hat trick on twenty six minutes finishing off a move involving Crawford and Brown with a shot against the post.
The third goal arrived two minutes later as a huge kick from keeper Ramsey cleared the Harrow defence and Wiltshire ran on before shooting over the advancing keeper and into the net, completing his hat trick in the process.
Harrows Freeman reminded the home team not to become complacent with a tricky run and shot before Marlow debutant Scot Webb tested keeper Becket on thirty three minutes.
Further efforts from Bowler and a Pedley effort cleared of the line saw United go into the break with a seemingly unassailable three goal cushion
HT 3-0
Harrow needed a quick score to have any chance of rescuing an improbable point and they achieved this inside the first minute of the half.
The Marlow defence failed to clear an early attack and the ball fell to Freeman who fired home a long shot from 25 yards.
United should have regained their two goal lead when the rampaging Wiltshire was bought down inside the area two minutes later.
Bowler fired the penalty too close to Becket who saved the shot diving to his right. The ball arrived at the feet of Pedley who saw the keeper pull of another brilliant save from his effort.
Buoyed by this success Harrow began to take control of the game, Marlow’s central midfield and defence suddenly looking suspect.
Now it was the away team who were bossing the midfield with Green heading over when well placed.
A succession of corners put the home team under more pressure, Lee Ovens clearing off the line from the last of these.
Marlow replied with Adam Lanaway missing when unmarked in the box before Marlow replaced Wiltshire with Vinnie Cuva in an effort to add some pace to the attack.
Lanaway missed a sitter when his header from six yards flew over the bar following a Bowler cross as Marlow relieved some of the pressure.
The home team escaped unscathed on eighty minutes when the ball skidded across the area and Weyman some how managed to fire wide from two yards.
With the game becoming stretched United bought on Tristan Heywood for his first outing after a long layoff for Scot Webb.
Just as it looked as if United had weathered the pressure Harrow scored.
Crawford was penalised for handball on 88 minutes and Freed fired home a spectacular free kick to set up a tense finale.
As it was they survived with Brown seeing an effort saved with a wasted Harrow free kick being the final action of the game.
FT 3-2
Team
M Ramsey, L Ovens, R Britnell, R Crawford, N Flint, S Webb, A Lanaway, D Pedley, L Brown, G Wiltshire, J Bowler
Subs
Vinnie Cuva for G Wiltshire 73 mins
T Heywood for Scot Webb 82 mins
Goalscorers
Gary Wiltshire 1, 15, 28 minutes.
Scores
M Ramsey 6
R Britnell 6
L Ovens 7
R Crawford 5
N Flint 6
S Webb 6
A Lanaway 7
D Pedley 5
L Brown 7
G Wiltshire 8
J Bowler 6
Subs
V Cuva 6
Heywood 6
Man of the Match
GARY WILTSHIRE