VASE HOPES SQUASHED
FTL FUTBOL HELLENIC
PREMIER DIVISION
Melksham Town - 3 Marlow United - 1
Marlow’s hopes of a decent run in the FA Vase were ended at Melksham Town, the home team earning a home tie with Fairford Town courtesy of two late strikes in the space of four minutes.
The Blues travelled to Wiltshire with an unfamiliar squad owing yet again to injuries, suspensions and holiday commitments and despite at times playing some attractive football it was tiredness, leading to individual mistakes that cost them the game against a willing home team.
Marlow custodian Carl Murray was first into the action collecting a through ball from the home team on a sunny afternoon with a strong wind favouring Melksham.
United started the game well, applying early pressure with the midfield of Mason, Middleton and Corbett moving the ball around accurately.
Melksham wasted a golden opportunity to take the lead on 6 minutes as a Macey free kick was nodded back into the 6 yard box were Deal some how managed to fire over when unmarked.
Melksham’s second effort arrived on 8 minutes, Fitch seeing his shot blocked with Eatough firing the rebound over.
By now Melksham were pressing the United defence although with little success as the away team looked the more comfortable in possession, their precise passing stretching the home team defence on several occasions although Melksham’s Sam Jordan was proving a handful for the United back three.
United’s best chance arrived on 25 minutes when a through ball from Leigh Mason picked out brother Jon who delayed his shot allowing Melksham to clear.
Two minutes later Marlow were regretting that miss as they found themselves a goal behind when Scot Webb’s weak back pass to Murray allowed Auckland the opportunity to steal the ball and slide it past the keeper and inside the post.
Rocked by that set back Ovens lost the ball in midfield and Wiltshire was forced into a desperate clearance from Thompson’s cross.
Jon Mason was finding himself the subject of some robust tackling which resulted in several free kicks but strangely no cautions from the referee as Marlow battled to find the equaliser.
The goal arrived on 40 minutes with the two Masons combining, Lee finding Jon with an accurate ball over the Melksham defence, the Marlow forward chipping over the advancing McFarlane and into the net.
Corbett felled Fitch with a full bloodied shot in the face 3 minutes later and Jon Mason found the keeper with his free kick as the half ended.
HT 1-1
With the elements in their favour Marlow began the half on the attack, their early pressure culminating in Mason taking the ball into the area only for a poor touch allowing Mcfarlane the opportunity to grab the ball.
Mason then appeared to have retrieved the situation, picking up the loose ball only for the referee to penalise the Marlow forward, for what no one knew.
Marlow then saw an appeal for handball in the area rejected following a good move between Lee and Jon Mason.
Melksham replied with a Fitch shot being blocked and Eatough firing over.
Scot Webb found himself in the book on 55 minutes following a late tackle on Coleman although in truth it looked no worse than many committed by the home team.
Thompson and Jordon combined with Murray saving the latter’s shot as both teams strove to gain the initiative.
Jon Mason and Corbett both saw efforts go wide and United first wasted a free kick on the edge of the area, Jon Mason’s short ball finding brother Leigh in an offside position before a second kick found Britnell in the area, his header finding keeper McFarlane.
With Marlow’s midfield by now looking increasingly laboured it was Melksham who scored the crucial third goal of the game on 77 minutes.
Macey was allowed too much space and his long ball found Jordan in space behind the United defence.
Despite Britnell’s efforts to retrieve the situation the Melksham man held his nerve and after sending Britnell the wrong way he fired home from the edge on the area.
Four minutes later and Melksham secured the tie with an almost identical goal with Stoddart collecting a ball over the top and with United appealing for off side he coolly fired over the advancing Murray.
Marlow made two late substitutions in an effort to retrieve the game but to no avail and it was the home crowd who celebrated at the close.
FT 3-1
Team
Murray, Ovens, Britnell, Wiltshire, Corbett, Middleton, Webb, L Mason, A Nichol, J Mason, Pedley
Subs
Liam Doyle for Dan Pedley 80 minutes
Dan Cracks for Ross Middleton 83 minutes
Aaron Doyle for Scot Webb 87 minutes
Goal
Jon Mason 40 minutes
Scores
C Murray 7
L Ovens 6
R Britnell 7
G Wiltshire 7
G Corbett 6
R Middleton 6
S Webb 5
L Mason 6
A Nicol 6
J Mason 7
D Pedley 6
Man of the Match
RYAN BRITNELL