Reds finally shrug off Southampton
Marlow Hockey Club: Women's first team move nine points clear at the top
Marlow Women’s first team eventually managed to shrug off the attentions of Southampton on Saturday to move nine points clear at the top of the South Central Women’s Premier Division 1.
Their 4-2 home win over Southampton, combined with Oxford Hawks 2nds surprise 3-1 home defeat to third placed Oxford means the Reds are starting to close in on the title.
It took a little while for them to find the right gear against Southampton however, as they initially failed to build on Lauren Hilditch’s opening goal in the
22nd minute.
Chances to extend their advantage came and went for the Reds and Southampton managed to capitalise on a rare counterattack to score from a penalty stroke in the 26th minute.
This seemed to be the impetus Marlow needed to go on and win the game. Rachel Clarke scored their second to give them a halftime lead and, while it took them 20 minutes in the second half to score again, they finally took the game away from Southampton with further goals from Vic Allen and Rachel Goodwin, the fourth coming from an electric counterattacking move.
A late lapse in concentration enabled Southampton to score from another corner in the 68th minute but a comeback never really looked to be on the cards.
The Reds now have a little break before they visit Henley on Saturday, February 24. With only six games left to play, it’s going to take a monumental collapse in form to stop them from lifting the title this season. They do though still have to play their closest challengers Oxford Hawks at home on March 2.
Other women’s results saw the 2nd team lose 3-0 to Reading 3rds, the 3rds defeat Wallingford 2nds 21 away from home and the 4ths also beaten 4-1 away by Banbury 2nds.
The 5ths defeated Yateley 2nds 4-0 away, the 6ths played out a goalless draw with Wallingford 4ths away, the 7ths defeated Staines 3rds 4-0 and on Sunday the women’s third team played again, drawing 2-2 with Oxford University 3rds.
Marlow men’s first team were beaten by the better team as they went down to a 4-0 defeat to runaway South Central Premier League 1 leaders Reading 2nds on Saturday.
The Reds created a few decent chances of their own but failed to take them and some desperate defence led to the concession of two penalty strokes which Reading converted.
The visitors generally defended well but they couldn’t prevent the leaders from scoring twice more to claim a comfortable home win. Despite the defeat, Marlow remain sixths, 12 points above the next team below them and still within touching distance of most of the teams above them aside from Reading who have pulled clear of the pack.
Marlow are back in action on Saturday when they take on Bournemouth away, while on Sunday they’ll play Royal Wootton Bassett in a cup match.
Marlow’s 2nd team managed to frustrate leaders Amersham & Chalfont 1sts for periods of Saturday’s clash, but they were edged out 2-1 in a close-fought encounter.
The first half was even, with Marlow unable to capitalise on some promising build-up play, pressing their hosts effectively and winning the ball back in dangerous areas.
But Amersham grabbed the lead before half-time from a short corner and netted another in the second half from a breakaway, despite Marlow giving as good as they got in an attacking sense.
A late goal from Dan Field gave the visitors some hope but they ran out of time to find an equaliser.
The Reds came away from the clash with their heads held high but without any points.
Other results saw the third team lose 4-1 away to Reading Phoenix 1sts, the 4ths beat Oxford University 4ths 5-3 and the 5ths win 40 away at Henley 4ths.
The 6ths were beaten 3-0 by Amersham & Chalfont 6ths and the 7ths were 9-1 winners away at Sonning 5ths. On Sunday, the third team played Oxford University 3rds and lost 1-0.