FTL FUTBOL HELLENIC LEAGUE
PREMIER DIVISION
KAMIKAZE MARLOW!!
Witney United 3 Marlow United 2
A suicidal opening 12 minutes cost Marlow any chance of taking something from their game against table toppers Witney United conceding three goals as they did in that time and leaving themselves a mountain to climb, a task that ultimately proved beyond them.
The fact that they recovered to push the table toppers all the way says much about the spirit of the club as they continue to defy the odds by competing at this level against clubs whose resources dwarf those of the Buckinghamshire minnows.
Arriving at the oddly named Polythene UK Stadium with just 45 minutes too kick off was not ideal preparation for this fixture.
The loss of skipper Chris Rowley, who left for Marlow FC during the week, and the unavailability of forwards Brown (on leave) and Flint (suspended) adding to the away clubs woe’s.
With midfielders Mark Doswell and Ollie Flint filling the front two positions it was a different team than usual who took the field playing into a gale force wind.
Witney immediately put the United defence under pressure forcing 4 corners in the first 2 minutes as Marlow grappled to come to terms with the conditions and their opponents lightning start.
Top scorer Wickens saw an effort cleared of the line from the third of these corners but that only delayed the inevitable opener which arrived on 6 minutes as a cross from Curtin found Thompson unmarked in the box his accurate shot leaving keeper Ramsey with no chance.
Worse was to follow as the home team doubled their lead two minutes later, this time the prolific Wickens scoring from three yards as yet again a cross evaded the Marlow defence.
The score soon became three as Burnley slotted home from close range after the under siege Ramsey had parried a shot only to see the ball rebound to the Witney forward.
At this stage it looked as if the home team would score with each attack and the Marlow bench must have feared the worst.
Thompson found himself clear on 14 minutes only for Ramsey to save before United had their first shot on target from a corner.
Marlow began to claw their way back into the game with Jason Bowler leading the way, the midfielder setting an example to his team mates with some timely challenges.
It was the same player who bought the away team back into the contest when his brilliant 28 yard free kick cleared the defensive wall and flew into the corner of the net on 23 minutes.
Straight from the kick of Witney attacked and Mills fired over from 12 yards and 4 minutes later a Curtin cross flew across the face of the United goal.
Marlow were thankful to go into the break only two goals down with Filmore clearing off the line and Ramsey saving from Curtin as the half ended.
HT 3-1
With the wind now in their favour Marlow knew that the first goal would be crucial but it was Witney who showed more urgency, Burnley firing wide from close range in the first attack of the half.
Ollie Flint fired a shot just wide after Pedley was fouled and Bowler’s kick found the Marlow man.
The away team were now enjoying greater possession than in any time in the game and after surviving a couple of scares they scored their second on 61 minutes with an excellent goal from Pedley.
Britnell began the move, his pass finding Bowler who continued the move with a ball to Ollie Flint his pass picking out Pedley on the edge of the area.
The Marlow man beat his defender and fired the ball into the far corner to put the away team right back in the game.
United sensed a third was on the cards and Flint, Bowler and Doswell had efforts on goal.
Ollie Flint was stretchered of on 77 minutes after injuring his foot in crossing the ball being replaced by Lanaway, Marlow’s second substitute as Pedley was withdrawn a minute earlier for Nick Flint.
With 5 minutes remaining Wickens was withdrawn by Witney as they attempted to protect their one goal lead as now it was all Marlow.
Doswell failed to reach a Bowler cross on 86 minutes and sub Nick Flint saw his shot saved after a scramble in the area.
The final act of the game saw Ramsey join the attack as Bowler fired in a free kick only for a grateful Witney defence to clear.
FT 3-2
Team
M Ramsey, L Ovens, R Britnell, R Crawford, I Green, B Fillmore, D Pedley, D Buchanan, M Doswell, O Flint, J Bowler
Subs
N Flint for D Pedley 66 minutes
A Lannaway for O Flint
Booked
L Ovens
J Bowler
Scores
M Ramsey 7
L Ovens 6
R Britnell 6
R Crawford 6
I Green 6
B Fillmore 6
D Buchanan 6
D Pedley 7
M Doswell 7
O Flint 6
J Bowler 8
Subs
N Flint 6
A Lannaway 6
MOM
Jason Bowler