Weekend review: Rio Ferdinand watches on as Marlow are relegated by Havant & Waterlooville

Daniel Darlington

30/03/2025

The former Manchester United and England defender Rio Ferdinand was in the stands at Oak Tree Road to see Marlow produce a valiant effort against play-off chasers Havant & Waterlooville on Saturday.

Marlow vs Havant & Waterlooville. Photo: Theo Edwards

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Marlow 1, Havant & Waterlooville 3

The former Manchester United and England defender Rio Ferdinand was in the stands at Oak Tree Road to see Marlow produce a valiant effort against play-off chasers Havant & Waterlooville on Saturday.

However, once again their efforts weren’t quite enough to pick up a positive result, with Havant running out 3-1 winners, while the result also saw the Blues relegated from the Southern League Premier South.

The Blues’ relegation has been on the cards for many weeks, or some might argue months, but Mark Bartley’s side have never thrown in the towel even when the odds of survival were heavily stacked against them.

They went down fighting on home soil once again yesterday afternoon, with Bartley believing they deserved more against a Havant side fighting to establish themselves in the top five this season.

He was also critical of the match officials, claiming their performance was ‘wholly unacceptable’ and lacking ‘impartiality and integrity’.

Marlow gave as good as they got in the first half, but the home side found themselves behind on the stroke of half-time, when Harry Hoath’s challenge was deemed to be a penalty in the 45th minute and the Hawks Ryan Seager scored from the spot.

Marlow got themselves back on level terms in the 83rd minute when the ball bobbled up for Naheer Nawaf to crack home with a shot that flew in off the post.

Havant nearly made an instant response when Bradley rolled a shot just wide of the post, but the visitors grabbed a late winner in the 94th minute when Seager netted his second.

Marlow’s Hadjini was sent off for dissent in the aftermath of the strike and with the Blues down to 10 men, Seager was able to score his side’s third goal in the dying embers.

The result finally sees Marlow relegated back to step 4, however, they still have five matches left to restore some pride and finish the season on a positive note. They are back in action at Poole Town this Saturday (April 5).

What Ferdinand thought of the Blues defending on Saturday is open to debate, however, defensively the side haven’t been good enough all season. The Blues have one of the worst defensive records in league and non-league football this season. The three goals they conceded at Oak Tree Road means they’ve now conceded 98 times in the league this season, the next worst is Chertsey Town in 16th who have conceded 73.

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Flackwell Heath 3, Leverstock Green 1

Flackwell Heath strengthened their hold on a play-off spot in the Southern League Central Division as they overcame Leverstock Green with a brace from Lewis Patrick.

It looked like it may be a difficult afternoon for the third placed side when Leverstock’s Aaron Burton (5') fired the visitors in front in the opening minutes.

However, the scales tilted firmly in Flackwell’s direction when Ademide Baruwa was sent off just three minutes later for bringing down Wiktor Makowski as he looked to burst clear on goal.

The Heathens managed to settle some of the jitters when they got themselves back on level terms through Jack Shakespeare’s goal in the 31st minute.

The hosts then turned the game on its head in the space of three minutes when Patrick fired home to make it 2-1 in the 50th minute and 3-1 in the 53rd minute.

The Heathens were never seriously likely to throw away a two-goal advantage against only 10 men and they saw out the final 30 minutes to register another comfortable victory in front of 294 supporters at Wilks Park.

The result lifts them to 71 points, three clear of Barton Rovers in fourth, but more importantly, eight points clear of sixth placed Thame United in the race for a play-off finish.

They have just five games left to see the job through, starting at 11th placed Hertford Town on Saturday, but manager Chris Ayres and his team can probably start preparing for the end of season play-offs where they’ll have a shot at going for back-to-back promotions.

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Bedfont Sports 3, Burnham 1

The race for the final two play-off spots in the Combined Counties Premier Division North looks like it will be between Burnham, Harefield United and Holyport after yesterday’s (Saturday) results - and two into three won’t go.

Bedfont Sport’s 3-1 home win over Burnham at the Bedfont Sports Club means they’ve wrapped up third place at the very least, and it leaves Burnham, Harefield and Holyport all on 59 points in the race for the division’s fourth and fifth play-off berths.

Jared Myers (33' pen), Tommy O'Neill (62') and Daniel Williams (90+3') were all on target for Bedfont, with Jabir Laraba (63) briefly getting the Blues back in contention with a goal to make it 2-1 midway through the second half.

Mo and Omar Bakali’s side couldn’t find an equaliser however, which led to them being pegged back by Holyport.

Burnham and Holyport have both played 35 matches - and have only three left to play - all of them away from home. So, Harefield are probably in pole position to take fourth place as they have two games in hand.

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Holyport 3, Ardley United 1

Sixth placed Holyport have put themselves firmly back in contention for the top five after their 3-1 win over Ardley Untied at Summerleaze Park on Saturday.

Amari Fashanu (42'), Jack Harrod (58') and Cyril Ocansey (90+1') grabbed the goals that got Port all three points.

It’s getting tight at the top. Burnham are in action at Ardley United on Saturday, Holyport Wallingford & Crowmarsh on Tuesday, April 8, while Harefield visit British Airways on Tuesday and host Reading City on Saturday.

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Windsor & Eton 0, Spartans Youth 1

League leaders Windsor & Eton are struggling to get themselves over the finish line in the race for this season’s title and promotion to step 5, as Matty Angell’s side slipped to a surprise 1--0 home defeat against Spartans Youth at Stag Meadow on Saturday.

The Royalists advantage at the top has been cut to nine points by yesterday’s results, with their closest rivals coming away from Holmer Green with a 2-0 win.

Windsor & Eton need just a few more points to complete the job and earn back-to-back promotions, however, their form has deserted them in the past couple of matches with the team losing 2-0 at Holmer Green on Tuesday and 1-0 at home to lowly Spartans Youth on Saturday.

The only goal of the game was scored by Spartans in the 88th minute and the home side couldn’t respond. They’ll have a chance to bounce back when they host seventh placed Molesey on Tuesday evening (7.45pm kick-off). They’ll then finish the campaign with games against Brook House (A), Westside (A) PFC Victoria London (A) and Brook House again at home on the final day of the season on April 19.

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Windsor 2, Molesey 2

At the other end of the table, 19th placed Windsor find themselves four points above the drop zone after their 2-2 home draw with Molesey on Friday evening.

Harry Boxall (7' og) and Samuel Johnstone Healey (25') were on target for the home side at Holloways Park but Harlem Bouchez (22') and Tyler Hargreaves (43') replied for the visitors.

Windsor are back in action at London Samurai Rovers on Tuesday, April 8, a crucial clash which could determine whether they survive or are relegated this season.