There was a certain symmetry about the results of Marlow’s Women’s and Men’s first teams at the weekend. Both returned from away matches with a point; both felt they could have had all three; and in each case, the equalising goal came in the last minute. In that final respect, the equalising goal was good news for the Women, and bad news for the Men.

On Saturday, Marlow’s women visited Oxford University, a place above them in the England Hockey West Conference. The hosts, looking to impress before next week’s Varsity match against Cambridge, started aggressively, putting the Marlow defence under pressure, but Marlow were composed and grew into the game as the first quarter progressed.

Lana Jones-Wallis put a great ball through to Caroline Richard but the shot was wide and then a lovely pass from Tilly Olney found Eva Barnett who won Marlow’s first attacking penalty corner which bobbled past the back post. Oxford University’s passes were slick and some accurate defensive tackles from Poppy Godfrey and Lottie Porter were needed to keep them out of Marlow’s defensive circle, leaving the score 0-0 at half time.

After the break, Marlow re-started with their trademark aerial which Oxford University mistrapped to give Marlow possession and early pressure. Oxford eventually turned the ball over and Marlow keeper Alys Ramm made two good saves to deny the home side. Marlow gradually assumed control, winning penalty corners which came to nothing. Ruby Balcombe caused the home side numerous issues with her pace and accuracy of passes which earned her player of the match as voted by her teammates.

Somewhat against the run of play, the University side were the first to score, half way through the final quarter, with a clinical strike from a penalty corner. Marlow keeper Ramm denied them a second, coming out to make a spectacular save which spurred the reds into action, with captain Jones-Wallis equalising from a penalty corner in the dying minutes to give Marlow a well-earned draw and crucial point in a very tight league table.

Marlow’s Men travelled further afield to play Cardiff and Met University on Sunday, buoyed by three straight wins which had left them snapping at the heels of West Conference leaders Clifton Robinsons. Marlow started strongly, creating multiple chances and winning five penalty corners in the first ten minutes, but heroics from the Cardiff keeper and post men meant Marlow’s dominance went unrewarded.

As is so often the way, the home side then won a solitary penalty corner from which they scored, and even the home side were scratching their heads as to how they ended the first quarter a goal to the good.

The second and third quarters followed a similar pattern, with Marlow pressing but failing to convert penalty corner chances. Credit where credit’s due, Cardiff’s deep defence was impressive and effective.

The game sprung into life late in the final quarter, with Marlow scoring twice in a minute. Louis Cadinouche bundled one in from close range, and moments later, after penalty corner number 12, Ollie Blundy scored a an opportunistic goal to put the away side 2-1 up. After being 1-0 down for fifty minutes the momentum felt like it was with the Reds to close out the game.

Sadly, it wasn’t to be with, Cardiff being awarded a contentious last minute penalty corner which they converted. A real sucker punch which didn’t leave time for a response before the final whistle was blown.

The result leaves Marlow still in second place in the table, and five points off top spot, but with three matches left and nine points to play for, all is not yet lost.

Lower down the club, no fewer than six Marlow sides look assured of promotion. The Men’s 3s, 4s, 7s and Women’s 5s are all up, and now need to comfirm their respective league titles. The Men’s 2s are locked in a titanic four-way battle at the top of South Central Premier 2, and the women’s 4ths are battling for a play-off spot.

Finally, it is good to report that Marlow’s pipeline of junior talent is in good health, with the Boys U10s winning the County Cup on Sunday, and the Girls U10 also qualifying for the regional tournament as runners-up.

Marlow captain Lana Jones-Wallis, scorer of their equaliser in the 1-1 draw at Oxford University
Picture courtesy of @gmwsportphoto