FTL FUTBOL Hellenic League Premier Division
STALEMATE BUT REASONS TO BE CHEERFUL!
Marlow United 0 Kidlington 0
Marlow commenced their historic first season in step 5 of the football pyramid with a competitive draw at Wilks park. The home team can feel reasonably satisfied with their performance having more than matched their opponents in a hard fought 90 minutes and creating the better of the chances although a draw was probably a fair result.
Credit to landlords Flackwell Heath FC for creating an excellent playing surface which with stood a torrential downpour prior to kick off and is a vast improvement on last season.
United began the game in determined fashion taking the game to their opponents from the kick off. Ben Filmore tried his luck, shooting from 40 yards in the first minute as the home team attempted to open their Premier division account. Kidlington keeper Tucker was injured in the 2nd minute clashing with James Flint as the Marlow forward chased a through ball, receiving a kick on the hand for his troubles.
The away side relieved the early pressure gaining the games first corner on 9 minutes only to see the home keeper Carl Murray confidently punch away the kick.
New recruit Mark Doswell fired in a 20 yard effort after the persistent Flint had won the ball and Lewis Brown followed up with a left foot shot as United continued to probe the Kidlington defence. Brown was involved soon after running into the area only to find him self crowded out by defenders.
The away team began to see more of the ball as the initial pressure subsided, their midfield using the ball to good effect. On 20 minutes they gained the second corner of the game after a period of pressure only to see the ball cleared.
Daniel Pedley found him self in the referees note book after a horribly late tackle on Gabbidon before the home team gained a series of five corners in succession. Keeper Tucker was called into action punching clear under pressure as Buchanan and Britnell fired in a flow of dangerous kicks the last being met by the impressive Heywood who saw his header cleared of the line and a subsequent shot resulting in a goal kick.
Then on 30 minutes Marlow created the best chance of the game. Britnells free kick was flicked on in the area and when Browns cross back in found the unmarked Flint the Marlow forward headed the ball straight at keeper Tucker. From the clearance Baker almost gave Kidlington the lead when his shot flew past the far post with Murray a spectator.
The game continued to ebb and flow, Pedley mis-kicking when well placed at one end and Williams firing in a rasping shot after a layback from Deabill had set him up at the other. The half ended with a United corner resulting in Brown trying his luck after receiving the ball from Ovens
HT 0-0
Marlow began the second period brightly again taking the game to their opponents. In the 47th minute a Brown run and cross was cleared from the feet of the onrushing Doswell. 2 minutes later a Filmore pass released Flint his cross being met first time by Pedley who saw the goal bound effort saved by Tucker. At this stage the home team were dominant with Buchanan, Filmore and Doswell dominating the midfield and Crawford and Heywood ably dealing with the Kidlington attack. Pedley and Brown combined with the latter delaying his shot when well placed.
Williams fired in a dangerous cross for the away side only for the confident Murray to collect and Baker saw his free kick cleared by Ovens as Kidlington fought back. A quick break and a corner saw them fire over on 57 minutes as United had to be on their guard.
Brown and Flint were a constant menace to the away defence with Britnell and Pedley also testing keeper Tucker.
Kidlington stretched the home defence three times in the space of 4 minutes, Gabbidon and Clarke twice, sending in dangerous crosses from the left only to watch in dismay as nobody could divert the ball into the net.
On 76 minutes Marlow almost snatched the lead when Brown’s flicked header from Buchanan’s corner skimmed the bar. A minute later they almost paid the price when a mix up between Ovens and Brown allowed Clarke a run on goal only for his shot to miss the far post by inches.
With both sides intent on taking the three points the game continued to flow back and forth. Dan Flint replaced the influential but tiring Buchanan in the 80th minute and United had chances through James Flint as they looked for the winning goal but in the end a draw was a fair result.
Manager Kevin Carvell was delighted with the team’s performance saying “We played extremely well against determined opponents. This result will give the team a confidence boost for the coming season. It showed that we are capable of competing at this level”
C Murray 7 confident
L Ovens 7 combative start
R Britnell 7 improved as game progressed
R Crawford 7 Composed
T Heywood 8 a rock
B Filmore 8 excellent
D Buchanan 7 superb distribution
M Doswell 7 90 minutes of action
L brown 7 non stop
J Flint 7 all action
D Pedley 7 Excellent second half
Sub
D Flint 7 straight into the action
Referee
Ian Douglas 8 mature performance
MOM
B Filmore