Football round-up: Marlow's positive display counts for little in defeat to Merthyr

Marlow keeper Harrison Rhone. Photo: Theo Edwards/ TME Sports Photography

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Marlow 0, Merthyr Town 1

Marlow produced another positive performance against league leaders Merthyr Town this afternoon, but not the result to go with it as the Blues slipped to a narrow 1-0 defeat.

The bottom of the table Blues were looking to build on their hugely encouraging 5-2 win at Chertsey Town last weekend – but they weren’t able to make any further inroads into the teams above them in the table.

They remain 10 points from safety though after most of their relegation rivals – barring Frome Town and Plymouth Parkway – also suffered defeats.

Mark Bartley’s side made Merthyr work hard for this victory, however, with the visitors’ winning goal coming in the 76th minute.

Callum Ryan-Phillips cushioned a header into the path of Cawley Cox who managed to curl the ball into the far corner past the impressive Harrison Rhone.

Marlow probably edged this game on the balance of chances and will feel they should have picked up at least a point in their battle for survival. They forced the Merthyr keeper into several decent saves and gave a performance that suggests they can match even the best sides in this division.

They’ll need to retain that belief when they visit second placed AFC Totton next Saturday.

They have 13 league games left to salvage their status as a step three side.

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Real Bedford 5, Flackwell Heath 5

Flackwell Heath were involved in the game of the day in Southern League Premier South – and perhaps all of non-league football – as they were held to a 5-5 draw by league leaders Real Bedford.

Chris Ayres’ side had looked to be headed for a hugely entertaining three points when Wiktor Makowski fired the visitors into a 5-3 lead in the 71st minute. However, the leaders managed to claw their way back into contention with Joshua Setchell (75') making it 4-5 a few minutes later and Joseph Evans (90+7' pen) converting from the penalty spot with the last kick of an absorbing game.

The result keeps the Heathens in the mix for the title, sitting as they do eight points behind Bedford with more than a third of the season remaining. However, this will also feel like a bit of a punch in the gut, given how well Flackwell played to get themselves two goals in front in the second half.

Both halves were equally entertaining, with Real Bedford taking a 3-2 lead into the interval.

The basketball nature of this game saw Flackwell take the lead in the fourth minute through Michael Harding, then lose it when Joseph Evans (10' pen) levelled from the spot. Makowski was back on target in Flackwell colours in the 25th minute but Evans’ second and a goal from Ben Stevens in the 37th minute saw the hosts go into half-time with a narrow lead. The hosts were though hindered by Jack Morrell’s dismissal in first half stoppage-time.

Flackwell capitalised, scoring three times without reply through Matthew Ayres (51'), Jack Shakespeare (66') and Makowski again (71') to make it 5-3, but Bedford simply refused to throw in the towel.

With the top three sides all drawing, it’s as you were at the top of the table.

Flackwell are back in action at fifth placed Barton Rovers next Saturday.

Our hosts rescue a point with the last kick of the game from the penalty spot, what a game!

Thanks to our hosts & best of luck for the rest of the season.

Thanks to the travelling fans today #Heathens #AwayDays #PointsShared pic.twitter.com/6IDhvurHpm

— Flackwell Heath FC (@FHFC1907) February 1, 2025

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Holyport 2, Reading City 0

In the Combined Counties Premier Division North there were excellent wins for both Holyport and Burnham as both continue to fight hard for a play-off place.

Holyport all but wrapped up their home win over Reading City in the early stages, racing into a 2-0 lead through goals from Harvey Seeman (6') Amari Fashanu (22') in the first half.

Adam Hopkins side then shut the back door to see off any threat of a City comeback as they saw out the game for a comfortable win.

The result moves them up to fourth in the table, two points above fifth placed North Greenford United, however they have played six more games than North Greenford.

The sides sat in sixth, seventh and eighth – Virginia Water, Harefield United and Burnham – also won this afternoon to keep the pressure on in the race for a top five finish.

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Burnham 4, Edgware & Kingsbury 1

Burnham were mightily impressive in their 4-1 victory over Edgware & Kingsbury at the 1878 Stadium, racing into a four-goal lead before conceding a late consolation.

Goals from Nathan Mampono (13') and Jabir Laraba (31' pen) gave them a solid lead at the interval and that was built upon by goals from Kristian Belousas (58') and Laraba again (80').

Struggling Edgware pulled a goal back through Mark Osei (87') but it was far too late to affect the result.

Burnham remain five points adrift of the play-off spot, but they have games in hand over Holyport who remain the most vulnerable side in the top five.

Harefield United – who defeated Wembley 5-3 this afternoon – are five points behind Holyport and have eight games in hand on them.

Match days at BurnhammFC pic.twitter.com/Z8zlPuaugq

— Burnham Football Club (@BurnhamFC1878) February 1, 2025

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Chalfont St Peter 0, Windsor & Eton 2

The Combined Counties Division 1 table makes for pretty good reading for Windsor & Eton fans this evening after they reclaimed their place at the summit with a 2-0 win at Chalfont St Peter.

Matty Angell’s side ground out a deserved away win thanks to a goal in either half from Oliver Graham (15') and Pawel Kowalkowski (55').

Graham slotted home clinically to give the visitors the lead in the 15th minute before Kowalkowski doubled their lead 10 minutes after the break to give the title chasers much needed breathing space.

With Penn & Tylers Green seeing their game at Molesey postponed, Windsor & Eton have moved two points clear at the top with two games in hand.

They are back in action at home to sixth placed Hillingdon Borough on Tuesday evening.