FIRST EVER WIN AT STEP 5!!
FTL FUTBOL Hellenic League
Premier Division
Reading Town 1 Marlow United 2
Marlow completed their first win of the league campaign with a narrow win over local rivals Reading Town, two first half goals being enough to see the Bucks team returning home with the three points.
United twice punished slack defending by the home team with captain Tristan Heywood heading home Doug Buchanan’s free kick on 11 minutes, beating keeper Hodgetts to guide the ball home.
The scorer received a knee in the back for his troubles being replaced on 40 minutes leaving manager Kevin Carvell fretting over Heywood’s availability for Saturday’s FA cup tie at Beaconsfield.
The away team went further ahead on 29 minutes when James Flints cross to the far post was bundled home by Adam West with the Reading defence in disarray.
In truth it was no more than Marlow deserved for a committed first 45 minutes in which they were quicker to the ball than their opponents.
Playing in a 4-4-2 formation Lewis Brown and James Flint gave the home defence a torrid time and with the midfield constantly winning the ball the home team rarely threatened.
United kicked of on a perfect evening for football and soon had Reading on the back foot.
The impressive Nick Flint playing wide right of the midfield four had an early shot before the away team won the first corner of the game, Britnells kick flying across the face of the goal.
Flint then saw his free kick cleared as the away team continued in impressive style.
Keeper Murray was finally called into action collecting a cross on 9 minutes before Lewis Brown’s dangerous run ended in a cross.
Two minutes later saw Heywood head home the opener as Marlow continued to look the sharper outfit.
Reading’s Finnieston saw an effort go wide before another Flint free kick was played back into the danger area by Brown.
The home team enjoyed a period of possession with Lewis firing straight at Murray after excellent build up play.
James Flint’s pass then put cousin Nick into the danger area only for keeper Hodgett to foil the Marlow man.
Shortly after United doubled their lead as a hesitant Reading defence allowed West the opportunity to score at the far post after a James Flint’s cross from the right.
Reading raised the tempo of their game as they attempted to pull a goal back before half time but with the Marlow back four in commanding form they rarely threatened.
Captain Tristan Heywood was replaced by Dan Pedley on 40 minutes, the captain hobbling off with a sore back.
HT 0-2
United were glad of the two goal cushion though with Reading upping the tempo of the game in the second half.
Having pulled back a two goal half time deficit in their last home appearance against Kidlington the home team were obviously intent on repeating the feat against Marlow.
It was the away team though who started the half brightly with Nick Flint firing over and Brown having his shot saved, this after Brooks had been booked for a late tackle on James Flint.
Reading replied with a concerted attack resulting in Hancock heading a corner wide.
Keeper Murray then had to save with his feet as Finnieston burst through on goal.
United almost snatched a third with Hodgetts turning Britnells low free kick around the post on 58 minutes before Reading’s Finnieston saw his cross fly across the face of the goal.
Reading were now dictating the pace of the game, playing some flowing football at times, Murray making a splendid save with his feet as Finnieston bore down on goal.
Thorne became the second Reading player in the book, James Flint once again the recipient of a late tackle, this after Marlow’s Brown was booked for a tackle on Hancock.
Dan Flint replaced Buchanan, the midfielder having put in an impressive 70 minutes as the away team seemed to have weathered the storm.
Britnell’s free kick forced keeper Hodgetts into a hurried punch putting his defence under pressure when a needless free kick conceded by substitute Dan Flint ended with the ball at the feet of Brooks, the Reading man turning his defender and blasting home from an acute angle on 80 minutes.
The home team were now in the driving seat as United looked rattled.
Further efforts from Finnieston and Hancock and a clearance from Murray saw Reading pressing for the equaliser as United’s defence were just happy to clear the ball upfield.
Pedley limped off with 10 minutes to play, to be replaced by Wiltshire as United attempted to stem the tide.
That they did owed much to the spirit of the team and to the inability of Reading to convert pressure into an equaliser.
It was a delighted Marlow manager who celebrated at the final whistle stating “It’s nice to get that win under our belts. I felt we just about deserved it on our first half performance although credit to Reading, they really came at us toward the end, we were hanging on for those last ten minutes”
FT 0-2
Team. C Murray, L Ovens, R Britnell, R Crawford, I Green, T Heywood, N Flint, D Buchanan, L Brown, J Flint, A West
Subs.
D Pedley for Heywood 40 mins
D Flint for D Buchanan 70 mins
G Wiltshire for D Pedley 80 mins
Scores
C Murray 7 Two excellent saves
L Ovens 7 Impressive defending
R Britnell 7 As above
R Crawford 7 More like the Rob we know
I Green ``````````````8 Continues to impress
T Heywood ````````7 Opportunist goal
N Flint ```````````````8 All round display
D Buchanan ```````7 looked back to top form
L Brown ````````````7 Non stop
J Flint ```````````````7 As above
A West `````````````7 Gave his all
Subs
D Pedley ``````````7
D Flint ``````````````7
G Wiltshire`````````7
MOM
Nick Flint