Lack of goals sees Cup exit

Having lost to Oxford in the league just before Christmas Marlow were keen to get revenge in the EH Cup. With only two teams progressing from this strong division, any one of four teams had the chance to join leaders Reading in the next round.

At the start of play Marlow were in second place but had to travel to Oxford in 5th. A win for Marlow would see them unassailably through. But given the right results Oxford could also progress so a win for the Bucks side was far from a foregone conclusion.

In the initial stages Oxford pressed hard and made the Marlow defence work. But they held strong and the team gradually found its feet, working the ball well up both flanks. Shots on target were few and far between though and two penalty corners failed to produce a result.

With a number of strong players missing Marlow showed strength indepth with Josie Nash as captain and Melike Gerrits stepping up to the mark. Excellent work by Ella Brown on the left and Anya Swales at CF couldn't produce a final successful touch.

Alys Ramm in the Marlow goal was quiet for much of the game but Oxford had their moments and a couple of solid saves kept Marlow's hopes alive. Holly Broyhill-Fogg exemplified the Bucks team's intentions by chasing back 50m to make an excellent tackle after another Marlow attack had broken down.

With injuries sustained on both sides, players covered well and Amelia Barclay proved a handful for Oxford as she remosreless in her attacks from RD. In the final minutes, Marlow seemed to have made the breakthrough but as the keeper was beaten the final shot streaked heartbreakingly wide of the post.

With the final score at 0-0 a waiting game ensued as a draw in the other match between Maidenhead and OXford Hawks would have seen Marlow squeak through. Confirmation of another tight match but a victory for Hawks, 3-2, sealed Marlow's fate.

The girls are now eagerly anticipating the visit from Dutch side Evergreen over the Easter weekend and with a strong season behind them will be hoping to continue their forward momentum and win back the Reg Peacock trophy.