Women's results
Marlow's 1st team travelled to Bristol to play Clifton Robinsons 2 in their first rematch of the season. The home side started ferociously scoring a goal in the opening minute. Martha Goodridge equalised in the 7th minute with a goal from a penalty corner. Marlow continued to press the Clifton defence and Rachel Clarke put the reds ahead with a great strike from open play. Clarke put Marlow 3-1 up just before halftime following a great piece of individual skill from Goodridge, which Clarke finished off at the back post. A lapse in concentration in the opening five minutes of the second half saw Clifton score two goals in two minutes to level the scoring. Clifton earned all three points in the last 7 minutes even though Marlow pressed for an equalizer until the final whistle blew.
The 2nd team won their 5th game in a row away at Amersham and Chalfont 2s. A dominant first half display yielded three converted corners without response sealing the 3points. Scorers were Julia Westnedge, Jazzy Elsden and player of the match Pippa Lloyd.
Other results:-
3rd team drew 1-1 with Staines 1sts away.
4s drew 0-0 with Reading 6 away,
5s lost 4-3 to Amersham & Chalfont 4
6s beat Reading Phoenix 2 1-0,
7s lost 1-0 to Amersham & Chalfont 6
Men's Results
The men's 1st team kept up their challenge for promotion by beating Oxford OBU. They were given an early wake-up call when the home team scored first in the 11th minute. That stirred Marlow into action with three goals, 2 by Cameron Beazley-Clark, the other by Tom Gray. Oxford were still dangerous though and made the score 3-2 on the stroke of halftime. Marlow scored straight away in the 2nd half with Theo Seymour adding a 4th goal followed by further goals by Matt Ashton and Alex Land and Oxford made the final score 6-3 shortly before the end. This keeps Marlow in 2nd place only one point adrift but only a point above Staines who they meet at Pound Lane on Saturday at 11.45.
The 2nd team were at home to Witney 1sts looking to build on their recent momentum. The side were also bolstered by news that former player Rohit Kapoor was joining as coach.
However, a nervy start to the game saw the reds concede two early goals. Marlow have endured a tough first half of the season, and frustratingly, going behind at home has been a familiar position. The side now has more experience as a unit though, and with it, greater bouncebackability. Phil Cowell clawed a goal back before halftime from a short corner, to make it 1-2 at the break.
Marlow continued to improve as the game progressed, restricting Witney to chances on the break. The home side pushed for an equaliser and had a number of chances to level the game, including one shot cleared off the line. Alas time ran out before an equaliser could be found.
Other results:-
3rd team lost 2-1 to Thame 1sts away,
4s beat Milton Keynes 3 6-3 5s match was cancelled.
6s drew 1-1 with Amersham & Chalfont 6,
7s beat Wycombe 5 4-0