Blues maintain their play-off hopes after battling back against Sports

Marlow maintained their hopes of a play-off finish with a 2-2 draw at Bedfont Sports, however, they might have expected better against the league’s second bottom side after taking the lead through Junaid Bell’s 13th minute strike.

The Blues were also held 1-1 by Hanworth Villa in midweek but victories over Hanworth Villa and Westfield in recent weeks have seen them strengthen their play-off claims. They went into this Saturday's game at Bedfont 10 points clear of sixth placed Chertsey Town, with teams placed from two to five set to qualifying for the end of season play-offs. And, while they'll be disappointed to have dropped points at Bedfont, Chertsey’s 2-2 draw at Ashford Town means they still have a healthy 10-point lead over their rivals in the race for the top five.

Bell’s early goal gave the visitors early momentum, but they failed to build on it and that lead was wiped out before the break when Aiden Brown netted from the penalty spot in the 33rd minute.

Noe Vendrells then fired the home side into a surprise 75th minute lead and the Blues were headed for another disappointing result at a ground they never seem to play well at. However, manager Mark Bartley rang the chances in the second half, with Khalid Simmo, Dawid Rogalski and Kai Hamilton-Olise replacing Elijah Oladunjoye, NaheerOmar Nawaf and Aaron McLeish-White, and the Blues’ character shone through once again, with Simmo netting the leveller with eight minutes to play. The result leaves the Blues third in the Isthmian League South Central Division table, 10 points above sixth heading into their county cup semi-final against Reading.

They return to league action at home to the league’s bottom side, Tooting & Mitcham United, on Saturday.

“A strange game football,” Bartley tweeted. “There just seem to be some grounds, and some opponents, where you never seem to perform to your level and Bedfont is one of those for us.

“Still a point on the road should never be sniffed at, and we can now look forward to Tuesday’s semi final.”