Saturday saw Marlow 4s head into the big city for the first game at Ealing Lions. Ealing were playing at a new ground which was new to a few members of the team. The game started with 9 members of the team on the pitch and the other 3 members of the team doing a tour of the other sites that Ealing had played at previously. It was classic confusion tactics which had worked a treat and didn’t put us in the best of places for game readiness.

It was an innovative starting formation of 5-2-1 to try and contain the exuberance of Ealing Lions but we were looking a bit stretched to start with. Ealing started quickly taking full advantage of the extra space that they had and getting some early goals in despite Max Ellis getting some great saves in goal. We’d hoped to get some chances for the Tom Sheldon to practice his drag flick up in the oppositions D but that looked a distant hope as the game started.

Thankfully soon after the game started some of the missing 4s started to arrive. They battled through the crowd at the side of the pitch which turned out to be all of the subs that Ealing had brought with them. It looked like it was going to be a long day!
Once we had the normal minimum number of players you’d expect on the pitch we started to venture into the unknown territory that was the oppositions half. James Hirst and Ed Tyler were under pretty constant bombardment from Ealing but were still able to provide support to those in front of them.

We finally managed to get up to the oppos D and on one of those occasions Joe Daniel opened the scoring for Marlow. Here we go!!!
There then followed a period where Marlow started to get the upper hand. With the attacking play of Tim Frost, Phil Allen and Duncan Turner we managed to get a short corner. Time to call on the services of Tom Sheldon and see whether he was as good as he said. Oh yes he was!!! Super Sheldon does a drag flick to bring Marlow their second goal and the Lions are starting to look a bit less happy.

Marlow then withstood continued pressure from the Lions with Frazer Brown and Ed Tyler switching positions at the back with good effect. We went into the brave new world that was the oppos D and got another short corner. Super Sheldon only goes and does it again with another drag flick.

At that point the Ealing Lion back line was looking a bit shaky but their forwards compensated by getting more goals.

The last excitement from the Marlow perspective came from our excellent umpire Tony. He quite correctly (from my perspective anyway) awarded Marlow a penalty flick. Up stepped Che Armstrong to take the penalty and get Marlows fourth and final goal of the game.

Ealing Lions continued in the same scoring vein as they had throughout the game, bringing on their numerous substitutes and came away with the victory. The game ended 9-4 which looks one sided but there were real periods where Ealing were worried. Here’s to the return leg where we’ll plan to get a win over them.