Vital Cup Victory Eludes U14 Girls
A 2-2 draw with Oxford Hawks showed off the improvement in the U14 side but a failure to convert 2nd half pressure has meant progression in the EH Cup is probably out of their grasp.
This re-arranged fixture with Oxford Hawks gave Marlow the opportunity to improve their chances of qualification in the EH Cup. Drawn in league of 6 very strong local sides, the possibilities for qualification were dealt a blow early on with a loss to Reading.
However last November when Reading lost to Maidenhead and Marlow then went onto to beat their local rivals, the possibility of finishing top in the league became a reality.
The early exchanges showed that Christmas and New Year were not long passed but Hawks found their range first with a CHarlotte Wooster slotting in on 5mins. It was Marlow's turn to twake up then and with some great work in midfield by Jess Minshull-Beech and Hannah Gilmour, Marlow were soon level after a great run by Gilmour to give Amelia Barclay an easy tap-in.
Marlow defence absorbed the responding Hawks pressure and Mila Welch in the Marlow goal was rarely tested. The Pressure grew and frequent attacks on the Hawks goal eventually led to anya Swales pouncing on a re-bound to see the ball home. A effort by Minshull-Beech on the stroke of half-time was disallowed but Marlow were in control at half-time.
With a number of substitutions made for the start of the 2nd half, Marlow's structure took a little time to settle down, allowing Hawks to see their early pressure find its mark from a penalty corner strike by Jenny Wells.
Structure re-found Marlow were able to re-assert their midfield dominance and the last quarter of the match was played almost exclusively in the Hawks defensive half. With efforts from Barclay and Gilmour flashing wide, Swales was unlucky not to be awarded a 2nd goal as her close-range effort was ruled out as an early whistle gave Marlow the penalty corner instead.
Marlow continued to press with great attacking down the right and left flanks but the final winning goal eluded them and with it any chance of EH qualification.
One more Cup game remains - on 2nd March vs Oxford. 2nd place in the league remains possible as Reading look set to qualify following an 11-0 win last week over Hawks.