Goals, some suspense and three points for Myrrhlow

In the bleak midwinter many weeks ago, Marlow’s fixture against Horsham was cancelled when earth stood as hard as iron, making the Pound Lane ground as unplayable as Laurence Llewelyn-Bowen's Winter Wonderland.

“Baby, it’s cold outside!” and, “Do they know it’s Christmas time at all?” were the questions on everyone’s lips when the game was rearranged for December 20. However, with Marlow having had somewhat of an epiphany in recent weeks, scoring 15 goals in four outings, the game promised to be a real Christmas cracker.

“I don’t want a lot for Christmas,” Chappell informed the team in the dressing room. “There is just one thing I need. A point.” He was not to be disappointed.

Marlow were without a number of first team regulars to save them from Horsham’s power. Many merry gentlemen had been rested due to injury, whilst St Nick Winter and Jack Rurolfe were presumably stretching, rolling and carbo-loading in preparation for Wednesday night.

However, Kevin Chappell had managed to secure the presents of little helpers Elliott Killington, Ben Dawson, Ben Rollett and Josh Morgan, in addition to Sled Dillon and seasoned journeyman Trevor Jackson, formerly of the Three Wise Men.
All ye Marlow faithful had come to support and they had plenty to be joyful and triumphant about. Marlow made Scrooge look generous in the early stages of the game, retaining possession in miserly fashion.

Hooker, Roberts and Dillon successfully shepherded the Horsham flock away from goal and Goodman patrolled the centre of the park like Santa Clausola. There was to be no room at the inn.

The breakthrough came when Ben Rollett’s mistimed pass up the line was launched high into the sky and found its way to Jack Turner. The young international slipped through Horsham’s napping defence like a greased-up mythical saint down a chimney before unleashing a reverse-stick mistle intoe the bottom corner. 1-0 to the home side; the crowd sang in exultation.

Marlow followed the guiding star’s example: Chris Land, Ali Dalton and Turner were soon rockin’ around the hockey D and Alex Land and Sam Roberts were dashing, dancing and prancing in the middle of the pitch. Some neat interplay between Turner and Land, A., resulted in Goodman finding some space at the top of the circle. He played in Land, C., who slotted home first-time from a tight angel. 2-0.

The second half began much as the first had ended. Some slick passing and quick counter-attacking resulted in a Marlow short corner. Up stepped Hooker to release a powerful flick which wassailed past the keeper’s right glove for 3-0.

Marlow then began to collapse like a crutchless Tiny Tim. Young Rollett quickly became the pantomime villain when he was yellow carded for not retreating five yards for a free hit; the resulting short corner saw Horsham clinch a goal. Down to ten men, Marlow’s defending couldn’t have been messiah and Horsham scored a further goal five minutes later.

The home team must have felt that their fairy godmother had deserted them and that they were going to let yet another three points slip when shortly afterwards a Horsham striker baubled a shot past Boyd’s left foot for 3-3.

However, with five minutes to go Marlow pulled up their stockings. The ball found its way to Land, C., who played it up the line to Turner. Alone in the circle like Macauley Caulkin on Christmas Day, Turner moved the ball on to his reverse stick and ding-donged it merrily in, high to the keeper’s left, for 4-3 and victory.

Marlow’s two-goal saviour Turner was rightly awarded MOM, whilst Sam North was given DOD for some celebratory leaping which resulted in cramp and screeching.

Manger Joe Gleeson said, ‘Wham! Last Christmas we had a lot to mull over and plenty to wine about, but with the three points wrapped up we’ll be top of the tree before long. And to think that all I wanted for Christmas was my two front teeth! It gives me joy in my heart.’

By Chris Land