Marlow back on the hunt for silverware in Berks & Bucks Cup final against Reading

Chris Ovenden lifts the play-off final trophy. Photo credit: @FullFrameSport

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Having wrapped up promotion to step 3 with last week's play-off final win over Leatherhead, Marlow are back on the hunt for silverware in the Berks & Bucks Senior Cup tomorrow evening (Wednesday).

Having heartily celebrated their promotion - with some of the players jetting abroad for a short holiday - the Blues have one more score to settle when they take on Reading's u23s side in the county cup final at Sandhurst Town's SB Stadium (7.45pm kick-off).

Gates open from 6.30pm with the price £10 for adults, £6 for concessions (over 65s) and £3 for u18s. Children under five go free.

The clash promises to be an intriguing one with the young Royals also keen to right a few wrongs after losing on penalties to the Blues in the semi-finals of the competition last season.

Mark Bartley's side played Bracknell Town in the final at Ascot United's Racecourse Ground in last year's final and, although there was little to choose between the teams in terms of performance, they went down to a narrow 1-0 defeat.

This year, they'll be looking to go one better and complete a double of sorts as they look to add the Berks & Bucks Senior Cup to the play-off final trophy Chris Ovenden lifted just nine days ago at a jubilant Oak Tree Road.

Marlow have played three games to reach this season's final, overcoming Berks County on penalty kicks at Oak Tree Road before cruising to a comfortable 4-0 away win over Winslow United. That took the Blues through to the semi-finals - thanks to a bye - and they proved too strong for the Milton Keynes Dons at home.

David Tarpey netted a brace while goals from Kai Hamilton-Olise and Dawid Rogalski saw the Blues deservedly claim their place in the final.

Reading have played just two games to reach the county cup showpiece, which was moved to Sandhurst Town's ground last week. They defeated Burnham 2-0 away from home in the quarterfinals before being pushed all the way by Flackwell Heath in the semi-finals, booking their place in the final thanks to a penalty shootout.

Speaking about the cup final a couple of weeks ago, before Marlow secured promotion, Bartley said: “They came to watch us play last night and there will be no love lost there because of the way we knocked them out of the competition on penalties last season.

“That’s another big game, but this is it. This is football and we’re buzzing for it.”