First up on Saturday were the Women’s first team, at home against unbeaten Oxford University. The game started at a fast pace with both sides having opportunities, and Marlow took the lead in the 11th minute, Lena Sykora scoring with a superb stroke from the narrowest of angles. Oxford University were awarded a penalty stroke in the 30th minute after the umpire had initially blown for a defensive free hit for danger. Keeper Ramm managed to get a stick to the penalty, but not enough to prevent the equaliser.

Marlow responded with some skillful runs by Grace Kisbee and lovely touches by Jess Rees-Gray, and the home side earned another attacking penalty corner just before half time. Poppy Godfrey whistled the ball past the back post leaving the score at 1-1 going into the half time break.

The opening of the second half resumed with the same pace of the first. Man of the match Kiera Allen exhibited dazzling skills to break the Oxford press, and Marlow earned a penalty corner from which Lottie Porter’s drag flick was well saved by the Oxford University keeper. Marlow’s pressure earned deserved reward when Elin Galvin put the home side ahead after a goalmouth scramble with 12 minutes left on the clock.

Oxford University took their goalkeeper off with 5 minutes remaining, a gamble whose odds were shortened when Marlow received a yellow card, giving the students a two player outfield advantage, and they earned a penalty corner in the last minute of the game which they converted to equalise.

Marlow were unfortunate not to secure the win, but their point against an unbeaten side was fully deserved.

Marlow men’s 1st team went one better than the women on Sunday, as they won the battle of the newly-promoted sides on Sunday, beating Cardiff 4-2 in a dominant Pound Lane performance.

After Callum White converted an early penalty corner, Jayden Zamler’s brace and Tom Ferris’s third goal in as many games secured the points for the Swans.

Cardiff pounced on five minutes of Marlow dizziness to score two late goals, but were otherwise overwhelmed by the home side.

Marlow asserted themselves early and when White’s flick found the top left corner in the 9th minute, the pressure turned into a lead. For the remainder of the first half, the Swans held the ball with confidence and quelled any counter-attacking threat from Cardiff.

The lead doubled seven minutes into the second half when Zamler caught a rebound on the penalty spot and slammed in a split grip finish.

The visitors pushed back and the game grew more chaotic, but when Tom Rees-Gray bustled 50 yards up the left side and drove the ball across goal, Zamler deflected in to make it 3-0. With 12 minutes to play, Ferris chipped in, finishing into an open goal and putting Marlow surely out of reach.

In the last five minutes, Cardiff earned two consolation goals, one of them through ex-Marlow man, Ben Lazarevic, leaving a final score line which flattered the Welshmen.

Marlow secured their three points and will take momentum with them to South Devon next Sunday at Ashmoor. The women will also be on the road, with another tough fixture against table-topping Trojans in Southampton.

Callum White, scorer of Marlow’s opening goal on Sunday.
Picture courtesy of Ian Foster @IFSportsImages