HUGE WIN FOR MARLOW
FTL FUTBOL HELLENIC
PREMIER DIVISION
Wantage Town 0 Marlow United 2
Marlow travelled to Wantage determined to pick up three points in their battle to avoid relegation against opponents who sit in a fairly comfortable midfield position in the league.
The fact that they achieved their goal owes much to dismissal of home goalkeeper Daryl Sims on 26 minutes for bringing down forward Jon Mason as the Marlow man rounded the Wantage keeper on the edge of the area the action leaving the referee little option other than a red card.
The resultant free kick was cleared but with the home team having to play over an hour with 10 men United went on to record a win and gain three precious points.
Prior to the dismissal Wantage had looked far the livelier team, dominating the possession as Marlow looked lethargic their midfield looking a yard off the pace as they struggled to gain a foothold in the game.
The fact that they held Wantage at bay during the first half hour owed much to Captain Mark Doswell who had an outstanding 90 minutes at the heart of the defence ably supported by his co defenders with keeper Andy Walden deserving praise for his performance in goal, his first appearance since August.
Wantage gained their first corner after a minute before Green found Dan Pedley with a through ball the ball being cleared.
A further corner for the home team was cleared as Wantage continued to press with wide man Jones causing the Marlow defence problems on the left.
The game continued in the same pattern with Marlow relying on breaks out of defence and restricting the home team to few chances despite Wantage dominating possession.
Lee Ovens, again playing in an unfamiliar midfield role, troubled keeper Sims on 20 minutes, his cross being punched high in the area with a free kick being awarded following a challenge for the loose ball.
Shortly after Nick Flint’s free kick from in his own half was cleared but when the ball was played back it found Mason free in the Wantage half.
With the home defence looking for an offside flag Mason ran on before being felled on the edge of the area with the resultant dismissal of the keeper.
To rub salt in the wounds Marlow scored the opener two minutes later.
Winning the ball from a throw on their left Pedley’s accurate cross was met by the unmarked Ovens who guided the ball over the keeper and into the net, his first goal in a United shirt.
The home team continued to press Marlow despite being a man short and Keen was tackled by Doswell as he was about to shoot and Belcher saw his shot hit the post with Walden stranded on 40 minutes with just about their best chance of scoring in the period.
Marlow finished the half with Mason and Wiltshire combining and the former firing wide.
Ht 0-1
The away team began the half by pressurising the home defence.
A corner on 47 minutes was dropped the over goal the line by the keeper but Wiltshire was penalised for pushing.
Marlow were now finding space in their opponents half with the midfield playing the ball wide to either wing, Wiltshire Pedley, Flint and Mason stretching the Wantage defence.
Pedley was involved with much of the play seeing his 55th minute shot saved before Mason saw his cross cleared to Flint who shot over.
On 62 minutes Flint was flattened on the edge of the area, Doswell firing the free kick straight at the keeper.
The same player was then back defending on the edge of his own area winning a crucial tackle as he led by example.
At this stage of the game the home team seemed to have run out of ideas creating little to trouble the Marlow back four.
Flint shot over from an Ovens cross before Pedley found himself free on the left his cross being intercepted.
Walden produced a great save from Jones at the other end following a scramble in the area the loose ball being fired over.
Wantage were looking for the equaliser but in the process were leaving gaps at the back which Marlow were only to happy to capitalise on with sub Harry Pritchard, Flint and Mason seeing efforts either saved or going wide.
Flint was felled yet again on the edge of the area this time Mason’s free kick being cleared and Coull then finding the keeper.
Captain Doswell collected a nasty gash above the eye after a clash of heads whilst clearing a dangerous ball, United will be hoping the injury does not stop the player taking the field for their next game.
Wantage’s Rowe was fortunate not to enter the ref’s book for persistent fouling and it was from yet another free kick that Marlow sealed the game.
On 90 minutes Wiltshire was fouled on the left of the area and Flint’s free kick was handled as it found the defensive wall and the referee immediately pointed to the spot.
On instructions from the bench Doswell stepped up and fired home the kick, settling the game despite the ref playing 9 minutes of stoppage time during which poor control by Coull robbed the player of an opportunity and Mason shot from the half way line with the keeper half way up the pitch.
A delighted Marlow manager Kevin Carvell said after the match “That was a huge result for us. With most of the teams below us having to come to Wilks Park it’s in our own hands to pull away from the danger area”
FT
0-2
Team
Walden, Britnell, N Flint, Doswell, Green, Pedley, Coull, D Flint, Ovens, Wiltshire, Mason.
Subs
H Pritchard for D Pedley 65 minutes
A Lannaway for I Green 83 minutes
Booked
G Wiltshire
Scorer’s
L Ovens 28 minutes
M Doswell 90 minutes Penalty
Scores
A Walden 8
R Britnell 7
N Flint 7
M Doswell 9
I Green 6
D Pedley 8
C Coull 6
D Flint 7
L Ovens 7
G Wiltshire 6
J Mason 7
Subs
H Pritchard 6
A Lanaway 6
Man of the Match
MARK DOSWELL