FTL FUTBOL HELLENIC LEAGUE PREMIER DIVISION
HARSH, PAINFUL LESSON FOR UNITED
Marlow United 3 Milton United 4
Marlow were dealt a harsh lesson in this exciting game at Wilks Park, twice losing a two goal lead and crashing to a devastating defeat as Milton fired home 3 goals in 12 second half minutes.
This after notching three goals in the league for the first time this season.
Despite the heavy rain the pitch was passed as playable and was in perfect condition, a credit to the ground staff.
The visitors began the game in positive style, their quick passing game threatening to overwhelm a hesitant Marlow in the opening minutes.
United weathered the early pressure and began to look dangerous in attack, opening the scoring on 13 minutes.
A 35 yard run by Nick Flint resulted in a corner on the right and Rowley’s kick broke to Doug Buchanan who played the ball back to the corner taker.
His cross was headed home by Rob Crawford to give the home team the lead.
Thee minutes later Rowley’s header sent Lewis Brown clear of the defence but his low shot was saved by the advancing Griffith.
United went further ahead on 25 minutes as Rowley’s free kick was guided into the net by Reeve.
The game continued at a fast pace as both sides concentrated on attack, Bailey troubling the home team with his pace and control.
Sciaraffa and Ovens both had to be alert; clearing dangerous situations before Styles crashed a shot against the post from 20 yards after Walden punched away a cross on 37 minutes.
That only delayed the opening goal for Milton by three minutes as a cross from the right found Styles unmarked on the far post and he nodded the ball over a stranded Walden.
United responded with Brown running on to Heywood’s pass, outstripping the defence but once again his shot was saved by Griffith.
Milton almost snatched an equaliser as Hartley fired Bailey’s shot wide from close in with keeper Walden stranded.
United finished the half on the attack as they attempted to restore the two goal cushion.
HT 2-1
United were first to threaten in the second half as another Rowley free kick was met by Brown and his looping header was cleared of the line.
Marlow restored their two goal advantage on 64 minutes as Brown controlled a clearance from defence and despite being tightly marked he expertly found the advancing Nick Flint and the Marlow man strode into the area and slid the ball past the advancing Griffith.
This only spurred on the away team as they piled men forward, the pressure pushing United further back.
The home team were lucky to escape when a wild challenge by keeper Walden on Keyes as the Milton player broke through was ignored by the referee, the ball eventually finding the side netting.
It only looked a matter of time before they scored and sure enough the goal arrived on 69 minutes, an unmarked Hartley heading home from a free kick.
The home team were simply unable to stem the pressure and when Walden failed to hold onto a skidding shot on 78 minutes Keyes was on hand to stab the ball home bringing the scores level.
Four minutes later a sweeping move down the United right saw the ball played across the area to Brewerton and the full back fired the ball across Walden and into the net to give the away side the lead for the first time in the game.
United attempted to salvage a draw, Rowley’s header being cleared from the line but the away side played out the final few minutes to record their first league win of the season.
FT 3-4
A frustrated Marlow manager Kevin Carvell said after the game “We simply cannot afford to give away a two goal lead, not once but twice in a game. We have got to learn how to defend a lead. The boys are very disappointed in the result”
Team
A Walden, L Ovens, M Sciaraffa, R Crawford, T Heywood, D Buchanan, C Rowley, L Brown, N Flint, R Britnell
Subs
D Flint for M Sciaraffa 52 minutes
M Doswell for D Buchanan 67 minutes
G Wiltshire for C Reeve 81 minutes
Walden 6
Ovens 6
Sciaraffa 7
Crawford 6
C Reeve 7
Heywood 7
Buchanan 6
Rowley 7
Brown 6
N Flint 7
R Britnell 6
Subs
D Flint 6
M Doswell 6
G Wiltshire 6
MOM
T Heywood