Banbury extend advantage with victory over Marlow

Banbury have moved four points clear at the top of the South Central Men’s Premier Division 1 after Marlow’s late comeback was thwarted by the league leaders.

The Reds started the game in a positive fashion, carving out several decent chances before taking the lead through Cameron Beazley Clarke’s deflected finish in the 21st minute.

However, having worked so hard to take the lead, they let it slip almost immediately, with Banbury levelling matters from a 24th minute penalty stroke.

That altered the momentum and complexion of the match, with Banbury's pressing game forcing further mistakes from the home side’s defence. The hosts defended a few short corners well but, shortly before half-time, fell 2-1 behind. Then, controlling possession in the second half, they flighted through another long pass from which one of their forwards scored a decisive third goal.

Marlow responded positively, with Josh Morgans’ determined run forcing a short corner with two minutes to go from which Callum White applied a clinical finish. However, they left themselves too much to do in too little time and Banbury were able to close out the game for a victory that cements their status as title favourites. Marlow remain second, level on points with Trojans who defeated Maidenhead 31 away on Saturday.

The men’s 2nd team also played the league leaders and went down to a disappointing 4-0 defeat against Sonning 1sts. Sonning held off their attacks in the first half before clinically exposing their defensive weaknesses on the counter. They led 3-0 at the interval and a fourth followed in the second half following a defensive error from Marlow.

Marlow’s Women’s 1st team nipped above local rivals Maidenhead after a 21 victory at Altwood School on Saturday.

They took the lead when Vic Allen raced through to slot home in the eighth minute and, while both sides created further chances in the first half, there were no further goals before the interval.

With Martha Goodridge in fine form. Marlow dominated the ball in the second half, while Mabel Daw cut short several Maidenhead counterattack opportunities. They doubled their lead in the final 10 minutes with a well-worked goal from Rachel Goodwin (left) and, although Maidenhead managed a late consolation, the visitors held on to move up to seventh in the table.

The women’s 2nd team remain top in their division, despite Haslemere 1sts inflicting a first defeat of the season on them this weekend. In an unexpected twist, the opposition stormed into a 3-0 lead and Marlow weren't quite able to recover. Corner conversions from Helena Kennedy and Eva Barnett reduced to a single goal with 10 minutes to play, but Haslemere held firm.