MARLOW SHOCK THE FAVOURITES
SBJ CHALLENGE CUP
Marlow United - 2 Witney United - 1
After Extra Time
Marlow United eventually won through to the quarter final of the league cup winning a pulsating cup tie against favourites Witney United in extra time at Wilkes Park.
The home team overcame the late withdrawal of three key players with assistant manager Gary Wiltshire playing up front, Ross Middleton starting his first full game of the season in midfield and Scot Benyon slotting in at centre back all rising to the occasion and ensuring that Marlow were the team who moved into the next round.
United began brightly, determined not to repeat the disastrous opening spell which resulted in conceding three goals in twelve minutes when the teams met at Witney four weeks previously.
In fact it was the home team who presented the early threat with a Scot Webb free kick forcing a punch from keeper Beames on 6 minutes and Ollie Flint seeing his shot saved by the keeper 4 minutes later.
Marlow should have taken the lead on 11 minutes when Lee Ovens through ball sent Lewis Brown clear only for the forward to fire his shot across the face of the goal.
Witney hit back 2 minutes later when Lewis lead a break only to find himself crowded out as he bore down on the goal, the home team eventually clearing the ball after much Witney pressure.
By now the away team were beginning to dictate the play and following a corner off a deflected Mills shot Dan Pedley was thankful to see his clearance cannon of the cross bar and away for another corner.
Further pressure resulted in more corners and from one of these Marlow was indebted to full back Ryan Britnell who cleared off the line.
Witney continued to enjoy the greater possession but were unable to breach the Marlow defence in which centre backs Nick Flint and Scot Benyon were outstanding with Mark Ramsey also showing a safe pair of hands in the home goal.
Flint it was who robbed MacMahon as the Witney forward looked to score on 42 minutes with Ramsey saving from Woodley a minute later.
Marlow finished the half on the attack with Wiltshire heading over Webb’s corner.
HT 0-0
The start of the second half saw some scrappy football by both sides before Lewis bought Ramsey into the action on 5 minutes.
Three minutes later a Witney free kick saw a shot blocked by one of there own forwards and Marlow were happy to see Ramsey’s deflected save cleared from the six yard box as Witney continued to apply pressure.
Marlow eventually began to threaten the Witney goal with Ollie Flint and Lewis Brown setting up Webb to cross the ball.
Ross Middleton won the ball in midfield on 59 minutes and then saw Wiltshire bought down in the area as he ran onto the through ball only for the referee to wave play on.
Four minutes later Witney took the lead through a penalty kick as Ryan Britnell chopped down Lewis in the area.
Curtin stepped forward and slotted the ball past a diving Ramsey.
Despite going a goal behind it was Marlow who raised their game and Brown saw Beames pull of a marvellous save at the base of the post following a Benyon free kick on 77 minutes and then watched Ollie Flint waste another free kick as he blasted the ball over the bar after Webb was dragged back on the edge of the area .
United left it late to equalise with substitute Vinnie Cuva, who proved to be a real handful, starting the move which ended with Lewis Brown helping the ball over the line after a Scot Webb shot deflected off a defender and appeared to be heading over the line before Brown applied the final touch.
Witney saw one late opportunity to seal the tie wasted as Mills effort from a corner sailed over the bar on 89 minutes sending the game into an extra 30 minutes.
90 minutes 1-1
Marlow wasted little time in taking the lead for the first time after one minute of extra time with Benyon and Brown combining to release Cuva behind the Witney back four, the substitute seeing his first effort partially saved by Beames before picking up the loose ball and firing home.
Marlow continued to apply pressure as Witney looked rattled with their defence struggling to contain the threat posed by Brown and Cuva’s pace.
Witney should have equalised on 107 minutes though when MacMahon found himself in the clear only to shoot wide.
Britnell blocked a shot by Smith before a run by Cuva was stopped by Beames and then Brown saw his shot deflected for a corner as the action continued unabated.
Ramsey saved the day on 116 minutes tipping Smith’s stinging volley over the bar before Brown yet again saw a shot blocked.
The final action saw Brown and Cuva again stretching the Witney defence with the latter’s shot being saved before the referee bought the proceedings to a close.
A delighted Marlow manager Kevin Carvell said after the game “That was a tremendous performance by us against one of the better teams in the league. We weathered the initial pressure and once we took the lead I felt we were only team who would go on to win the game”
F/T 2-1
Team
M Ramsey, L Ovens, R Britnell, S Benyon, N Flint, O Flint, S Webb, R Middleton, D Pedley, capt, G Wiltshire, L Brown
Sub V Cuva for G Wiltshire
Scorers
L Brown 86 minutes
V Cuva 91 minutes
Scores
M Ramsey 8
L Ovens 8
R Britnell 7
S Benyon 9
N Flint 8
O Flint 7
S Webb 8
R Middleton 7
D Pedley 7
G Wiltshire 7
L Brown 8
V Cuva 8
Man of the Match
SCOTT BENYON