MARLOW RUE MISSED OPPORTUNITIES
FTL FUTBOL HELLENIC
PREMIER DIVISION
Kidlington - 3 Marlow United - 1
Marlow United and Kidlington played out an entertaining game at Yarnton Road with the home team taking the spoils after seeing off a spirited second half fight back from United who contributed to their own downfall by missing several gilt edged chances and then gifting the home team two goals.
Kidlington gained the first corner of the game after a minute with Deabill heading on the kick but no one read the flick.
Marlow were conceding too many free kicks as they struggled to cope with the slick movement from the home team although they earned their first corner on 5 minutes with Leggett clearing the ball.
United almost took the lead 2 minutes later when Middleton cleared a free kick to Ollie Flint who in turn found Jon Mason.
The ball was returned to Flint and his first time shot from the right of the area flew just wide of the post with McNamara struggling.
Kidlington lost leading goal scorer and player of the season Jimmy Deabill on 13 minutes following a clash of heads with Marlow captain Tristan Heywood, the centre forward leaving the field with his head swathed in bandages as he was taken of to A & E Lewis Coyle replacing the departed player.
The home team didn’t allow Jimmy’s loss to interrupt their dominance as the midfield continued to dictate the pace of the game.
United continued to be there own worst enemy, Paget’s poor pass leaving the defence struggling, the same player conceding yet another free kick as he tried to make amends.
Lee Ovens became the first booking of the evening, showing his studs in a tackle on 21 minutes and keeper Murray was then forced to push a shot onto the bar.
Marlow really should have opened the scoring on 30 minutes as Andy Nichol fired the ball wide from 6 yards following a move featuring Paget and Dan Pedley; the latter’s cross picking out the unmarked Nichol.
From the goal kick Kidlington went straight up field and Richard Norris crossed for Jack Quainton to head past Murray from close range.
Marlow replied with a four man move which ended with Ollie Flint’s shot being saved by McNamara.
Kidlington’s Adam Lovegrove, who was giving full back Greg Corbett a torrid time missed the target on two occasions when put through with Nichol firing over from 30 yards as the half finished.
HT 1-0
Rob Johnson replaced Sanders at the start of the half and the home team should have doubled their lead as Leggett fired over Johnson’s corner when he really should have hit the target in the first minute.
Mason replied for Marlow winning the ball and finding Nichol who saw his shot blocked.
Nichol then found himself in the book following a tussle on the bye line as Marlow pressed for an equaliser, Mason, Flint and Pedley all trying their luck to no avail.
Marlow replaced Paget with Lee Dixon and Middleton with Buchanan on the hour with Kidlington replacing Norris with Darren McNamara as both teams looked to gain the upper hand.
At this stage it was the away team who were applying the pressure only for keeper Murray to nervously push a header against the post following a Kidlington cross.
Nichol was replaced by assistant manager Gary Wiltshire after picking up a knee injury on 70 minutes.
Two minutes later Brad Chalmers headed wide following a corner with Marlow’s Ollie Flint then firing a corner across the 6 yard box as the game swung from end to end.
Philpot became the first home player in the book following a foul on Ollie Flint before Mason saw his shot saved from 8 yards with only McNamara to beat.
Dixon then led a break, beating his marker only to shoot from long range with Wiltshire unmarked in the box.
Kidlington relieved the pressure with a corner on 84 minutes only for United to break out with Wiltshire seeing his shot saved by McNamara yet again.
A minute later and the game was as good as over when a through ball to Lovegrove found keeper Murray stranded in no mans land as the Kidlington man lifted the ball over the keeper and watched as the ball entered the net despite the desperate efforts of Nick Flint.
United refused to accept the inevitable and 2 minutes later they gave themselves a lifeline as Ollie Flint’s cross was met by Dixon who guided the ball past McNamara.
With the game entering injury time and the home team looking to play out time Ovens needlessly threw the ball in to Murray and the keeper, under pressure from Johnson, lost possession and bought down the forward.
The referee had little option than to show the red card and with Corbett donning the gloves Leggett gleefully blasted home the penalty.
Mason’s shot, which flew wide signalled the final whistle and Marlow departed the field wondering what might have been.
FT 3-1
Team
Murray, Ovens, Corbett, N Flint, Heywood, Pedley, Middleton, Paget, O Flint, Nichol, Mason.
Subs
Lee Dixon for Chris Paget on 61 minutes
Doug Buchanan for Ross Middleton on 62 minutes
Gary Wiltshire for Andy Nichol on 80 minutes
Goal
Lee Dixon 87 minutes
Scores
C Murray 5
L Ovens 6
G Corbett 6
N Flint 7
T Heywood 7
D Pedley 6
R Middleton 7
C Paget 6
O Flint 7
A Nichol 7
J Mason 7
Subs
Dixon 7
Buchanan 6
Wiltshire 7
Man of the Match
JON MASON