Marlow Burn Ash

Following a fantastic victory two weeks ago, Marlow faced another long away trip, this time to Burnt Ash HC, in Dartford, for the quarter-final of the national mixed plate. Such was the importance of this game that BA had cut his holiday short in order to play.

It was clear from Marlow’s slow start that BA was still in holiday mode, as Burnt Ash launched several counter attacks after Marlow’s moves fizzled out. With Burnt Ash earning an early penalty corner opportunity after Captain Grey completely deliberately played the ball off the baseline. The normally dependable Graeme ‘What did you say?’ Cooke couldn’t save the subsequent shot, and the score read 1-0 to the home side after just 5 minutes.

To make matters worse, it wasn’t long until Tom ‘the Josie wannabe’ Grey gave the ball to the opposition centre forward, and with two shots taken, Burnt Ash had snatched another goal.

How a team responds to a two-goal deficit says everything about them, and Marlow’s response proved that they were a class above their opposition. Helen Cooked up a couple of tactical changes, with Marlow’s premier twins forming a confusingly identical central-midfield pairing, and Ella Brown debutant Lewis Cadinoosh being moved up front to accommodate his habit of excessive dribbling. Other new additions to the team found their flow, and penetrating runs from Kerry and Hannah and impenetrable defensive work from Gemma providing a solid foundation for Marlow to push forwards. Even with Andy ‘DOD’ repeatedly missing the ball, and falling victim to the Dartford Sniper, Angelaa was providing cover, and mopping up his slips.

Their first goal of the astonishing comeback came from the skipper himself, as Josie Nash Tom Grey’s drag-flick, implausibly travelling at a slower pace than he does, finding its way past the excitable Burnt Ash defenders. With momentum on their side, Marlow kept pushing forwards, and although BA was still anonymous, the other forwards, led by the indomitable Lesley, were making up for it, and it was Louis ‘passez le ballon’ Cadinouche who finished off a wonderful move to make it 2-2 at half time.

Inspiring words from Tom Grey were drowned out by distant traffic, but nevertheless Marlow started the second half with renewed vigour. It wasn’t long before the greedy half of Marlow’s dynamic centre midfield duo was taking more potshots at the Burnt Ash keeper, none of which went anywhere near the goal, but kudos to him for trying. Improbably, it was Tom Grey yet again for Marlow, with another embarassing drag-flick dribbling over the goal line for Marlow’s third. At 3-2, Marlow were playing comfortably round a tiring Burnt Ash midfield, with exceptional pace from Laneo, who was combining well with BA, demoted to left-back.

Burnt Ash were struggling to threaten Marlow’s circle thanks to MOM Gemma’s defensive efforts. Another penalty corner for Marlow led to another goal, as Tap-In Willis Tyler showed his impressive reaction speed, and pounced on a rebound from another weak Tom Grey drag-flick. Even with a two goal lead, Marlow kept playing forwards, with Hannah coming close to several surprisingly good balls from BA, which apparently stands for Big Arms/Aerial. Burnt Ash’s best efforts towards the end of the match led to a last-play short corner, which Andy saved with an unbelievable first and last touch of the game.

With yet another heroic victory, Marlow’s mixed team are looking forwards to seeing you at Lee Valley on Saturday 2 June for their National semi-final..