Bartley couldn’t fault Blues’ ambitious intent
Marlow hit by late sucker punch at Chertsey while chasing winner
Marlow boss Mark Bartley couldn’t fault his players mentality as they went searching for a late winner over Chertsey Town – only to be hit by a sucker punch at the other end, writes David Lee.
A 76th minute equaliser from the prolific Junaid Bell left the Blues hunting for a vital three points over the Curfews on Saturday.
But just minutes after drawing level, Chertsey re-took the lead handing new boss Ian Selley victory in his first game in the dugout at Alwyns Lane.
Bartley told the Advertiser: “The team smelt blood and felt like we could go on and win it but we got caught out.
“What you take away from that as a manager is over the course of the season it’s about being aggressive and trying to win games.
“You’re better off winning one and losing one than drawing two. That’s the mindset we have and we believe we can go on and win games.
“It’s not worked for us this time but there will be another time where we will be aggressive and go on and win the game.”
Marlow faced a Chertsey Town side who had undergone their own managerial upheaval with former Arsenal player Ian Selley replacing player manager Kevin Maclaren in the dugout.
And Bartley conceded that change had given his opponents an extra vigour in the way they approached the game.
He added: “There were a lot of players trying to show what they were capable of and at any level of football when a new manager comes in it tends to lead to a bit of a bounce.”
The Blues handed debuts to new signings Baboucarr Jarra and Khalid Simmo at the weekend.
And centre-half Jarra, once an FA Vase winner with Thatcham Town, will be hoping to lead his new side on their own trip to Wembley as the Blues host Larkhall Athletic in the first round of the FA
Trophy on Saturday.