Zammler snatches dramatic late winner as Marlow's men beat Bath to move second

Marlow captain Sam North netted twice from penalty corners. Photo credit:@gmwsportphoto

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Marlow’s men moved up to second in the National League Conference West table with a valuable away win at Bath Buccaneers on Sunday.

Having suffered a tight, opening day defeat to the Buccaneers at Pound Lane, the Swans travelled down the M4 itching to put that result right and continue their recent fine form in the division.

Having been promoted to the National League for the first time, the team took a little while to find their feet at the start of the campaign, however, they’ve been motoring along of late, and this victory lifts them up to second place.

Marlow began the game strongly, with Sam North converting from a penalty corner in the fourth minute.

The captain then doubled his side’s advantage by repeating the trick early in the second quarter.

But Bath haven’t lost at home this season and those goals from North stung them into a response.

A goal from open play cut the deficit almost immediately and they were able to draw level just before half-time.

The third quarter was a cagier and quieter affair and with only five minutes remaining in the game it looked as though both were content to settle for a point.

However, anyone who has watched Marlow matches this season knows the last few minutes are often likely to get the blood racing.

This week was no exception. Tom Ferris fired the visitors back in front from a penalty stroke in the 65th minute, but back came Bath once again, equalising with just two minutes left on the clock.

Surely, that would be that, but no, Marlow’s goal machine Jayden Zammler secured the win for the Swans in the final seconds.

Having had a goal ruled out in the final minutes of their first clash on the opening day, revenge was very sweet indeed.

The result extends Marlow’s unbeaten run to six matches and saw them leapfrog their hosts to move up to second in the table,

Marlow’s women made the trip to Bath just 24 hours earlier, keen to make amends for their 3-0 home defeat to the Buccaneers back in September.

The Reds started strongly and opened the scoring through a brilliant team goal, finished off by Ruby Balcombe.

Bath equalised minutes later with a rocket of a strike from a penalty corner and then went ahead for the first time with another goal from a penalty corner in the 11th minute.

Marlow had their chances though with Lottie Porter putting a great ball through for Lena Sykora, but she was denied an equaliser by a fantastic save.

Had that gone in, the game may have panned out differently. But Bath were clinical in the second quarter, netting twice more as they capitalised on defensive errors to make it 4-1 at half-time.

The Reds showed their resilience to force several penalty corners in the third quarter, but Bath defended them well to quell any hopes of a Marlow comeback.

And in a cruel twist, the home side then scored their fifth just moments before the whistle blew for the end of the third quarter.

At 5-1 down, Marlow were playing for pride in the final quarter, and they scored a lovely goal when Elin Galvin put a lovely pass through to Sykora whose shot was deflected into the roof of the net by a Bath defender.

Poppy Godfrey managed to score from another penalty corner as Marlow made the scoreline more respectable in the closing stages, but it was too late for them to force a comeback.

The England Hockey Leagues now take their mid-season break for indoor hockey competitions through to the end of January, and both the men’s and women’s sides will be itching to get back to action then.