Bartley's sleepless night after Marlow's 'gutless' derby defeat

Mitch Parker missed a second half penalty for the Blues. Photo: Theo Edwards

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Mark Bartley feared he’d have sleepless nights reliving Marlow’s dreadful second half display in Tuesday’s 4-0 home defeat to Flackwell Heath.

The Blues just about matched their in-form visitors in the first half and had the chance to level matters in the second, but Mitch Parker saw his penalty well saved by Henry Upstell.

After that though, the Blues succumbed to a very demoralising defeat, with Jack Shakespeare, Ben Stallard, Bruce Nsang and Lucas Wynn on target for the visitors.

After a brief recovery earlier in the season, optimism is running very low once again at Oak Tree Road. Bartley’s side have spiralled down the Southern League Central Division table once again, with Tuesday’s result leaving them nine points above the drop zone. Suddenly, it doesn’t feel inconceivable that Marlow could be dragged into another relegation scrap.

This was their fifth straight defeat in the league, and the team are clearly shorn of form and confidence.

Bartley didn’t hold back when speaking to Marlow’s media team after the final whistle.

“I’m furious,” he said.

“It was a gutless performance. First half I thought we basically stuck to the plan. We came in at 0-0. Admittedly we had to make a couple of changes, but I don’t feel it should have impacted the team in that way.

“At half-time I think we were even, but to concede the goals we conceded in the second half, nah, it’s not acceptable to me.

“I’m furious at that, it was a gutless performance from us in the second half. There was a lack of accountability from us at various times in the half where we conceded the goals and I think we got what we deserved.

“To do it in a game like that, which is one of our local derbies, it hurts a bit more. It will be a long night for me; I probably won’t sleep much tonight and that’s where we are.”

Weather permitting, the Blues will host Northwood at Oak Tree Road on Saturday.