Mixed fortunes as Marlow's senior sides fall but youth teams shine in the cup

Marlow U14 Girls after their win at Hertford and Toby Wingrove (313) being congratulated by team-mates on his winning goal against Rugby (picture courtesy of @IFSportsImages)

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Marlow’s men’s and women’s teams returned empty handed from their rare double header away to Clifton Robinson’s in Bristol on Saturday, but spirits in the club were cheered considerably by notable cup victories for the girls u14s and boys u18s on Sunday.

After a long mid-winter break the outdoor England Hockey League seasons resumed for Marlow’s men and women this weekend but neither result went the way they’d have hoped, with both teams failing to build on encouraging performances results prior to Christmas.

First to play were the women - who headed to Bristol keen to avenge their narrow home loss to the Robbies from earlier in the campaign. They started brightly enough, winning an early penalty corner that was deflected over the bar.

A period of back-and-forth hockey followed with Marlow’s best chance falling to Alice Godfrey after good work from Jess Rees-Gray and Kerri Smith, but the Clifton keeper saved well and the home side broke the deadlock not long after.

It came from a fiercely struck penalty corner, and the home side doubled their lead early in the second half.

Marlow rallied and came close to pulling a goal back through Lottie Porter’s penalty corner which was deflected narrowly wide by Rees-Gray. They made no mistake from another penalty corner shortly afterwards though when Kiera Allen converted to make it 2-1.

They had chances late on to nick a point, but they went begging and Clifton held for a win which lifts them above Marlow in the table.

The men were up next in a vital first vs second clash against table toppers Clifton Robinsons.

Supported by a healthy away following, Marlow pressed their hosts hard in the first period and played some of the best hockey of the season. But they couldn’t translate that into goals, despite coming tantalisingly close on several occasions.

The score remained level until half-time but Clifton were always likely to have a period in the ascendancy and they scored from open play five minutes into the third quarter. Theo Seymour responded for the Reds to make it 1-1 not long afterwards but the scores didn’t stay tied for long as Clifton showed why they are top of the table, racing into a 4-1 lead with three goals in quick succession.

Marlow finished strongly, pulling goals back through Sam North’s penalty corner before another North corner provided the chance for Jayden Zamler to tuck home a rebound, but Clifton held on for a 4-3 win - despite ending the match without their captain who was carded late in the game.

Marlow were left to rue not making the most of their first half dominance and chances.

Sunday was a much more positive day for the club with the u14s girls competing in the top-ranking Tier 1 England Hockey Cup.

They won their quarter final away at Hertford, playing some exceptional hockey in the process.

Goals from Elvie Rayner, Reina Spiers and Emma Blake put them 3-0 up and the result was beyond doubt before half-time.

The second half was more even, but a strong defensive display ensured it remained 3-0 at the final whistle. - meaning Hertford are now added to Oxford, Henley and Reading as the list of scalps taken by the team in the cup this season.

Later on Sunday, Marlow’s u18s boys travelled to Rugby and East Warwickshire for their Tier 2 EH cup match quarter final and managed to take an early lead when Toby Wingrove’s lofted pass into the D was collected and slotted home by Hayden Wilson. They might have added to their lead when Theo Seymour was flattened in the D, but the resulting penalty stroke was missed, and a lack of discipline then saw them reduced briefly to nine players - enabling Rugby to snatch a late equaliser.

This meant the tie was settled by a shoot-out. Both sides scored with their first three attempts before Josh Mustard, taking Marlow’s fourth, was wiped out by the Rugby keeper. He was promptly red carded, and Ollie Blundy calmly slotted the penalty stroke against the home side’s substitute keeper.

But the drama didn’t end there as the run of successful conversions continued into sudden death.

Tom Atkinson in the Marlow goal then managed to talk his way into a yellow card and a temporary suspension of his own, meaning both teams now had substitute keepers in goal.

Marlow finally triumphed 7-6, their twin heroes being sub keeper Ollie Hunter, who managed to drive a Rugby player wide enough to miss the target, and Toby Wingrove who rounded the Rugby keeper score the winner and seal Marlow’s place in the next round.