Late drama in Devon: Marlow's men pegged back while women's team fall at Slough

Captain Sam North, scorer of Marlow’s opening goal on Sunday

Image courtesy of @gmwsportphoto

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There were mixed fortunes for Marlow’s men’s and women’s team over the weekend, with the men’s team allowing a 3-1 lead to slip as they were held by Isca at Exeter University in Devon.

This was the men’s third trip to Devon in the past six weeks, and they’ll feel slightly aggrieved they didn’t return to Buckinghamshire with all three points after wasting several opportunities to put their hosts to bed in a thrilling 3-3 draw.

Isca were opportunistic throughout, never more so than in the 23rd minute, when Tommy Taylor opened the scoring for the home side from close range after a lapse in Marlow’s defensive organisation.

Marlow wiped out that lead almost immediately when captain Sam North finished a penalty corner routine into the right-side netting. The Reds then took the lead for the first time just before the interval when Callum White coolly flicked home the side’s second.

Jayden Zamler made it 3-1 early in the second half when he pounced on a rebound to score his eighth goal in five matches, but Marlow couldn’t capitalise on their remaining chances to take the game out of Isca’s reach.

The hosts made three desperate goal line saves, with their left post defender somehow parrying a low, fast flick up and over the crossbar. But the knockout blow never came from the Reds and Isca sensed an opportunity in the closing stages.

Throwing bodies forward they managed to build a head of steam and pin Marlow inside the own half.

The intense pressure told when they converted from a penalty corner through Jos Smith and then scored their equaliser in the final two minutes through Taylor.

They even had the chance to win the match from a penalty corner in the final seconds, but Marlow keeper Will Hunter managed to save and avert what would have been a cruel late twist.

The Reds travelled home with a point feeling half relieved but also half aggrieved with the result leaving them fourth in the Men’s West Conference table. This Sunday (November 23) the Reds are back at Pound Lane to take on second bottom University of Bristol (2.45pm start).

Marlow’s women were brought down to earth with a bump on Saturday after a 2-0 loss at Slough which will have left them scratching their heads.

Marlow started the game aggressively with a great high turnover from Lena Sykora leading to an opportunity that came to nothing.

The home side countered, winning a penalty corner that was fired over the crossbar, but Slough did eventually make the breakthrough on the counter when Alys Ramm was beaten by a terrific piece of individual skill.

Marlow saw a good opportunity from a penalty corner well saved by the Slough keeper while a great ball from Lottie Porter whistled past the back post where there was no red stick to deflect it in. The visitors continued to pepper the hosts’ goal with attempts in the second quarter but with no reward and they came off at half-time trailing 1-0.

Marlow continued to dominate throughout the third and fourth quarter, forcing numerous penalty corners which weren’t converted.

Then, very much against the run of play, Slough doubled their lead when Ramm made a good save but was unable to keep out the rebound.

The result was a frustrating one for Marlow who lacked their usual cutting edge in the final third.

They remain sixth in the Women’s West Conference table but teams below them are starting to close in. This Saturday, Marlow host one of those sides Cheltenham at Pound Lane (3pm start).

It’s a positive story across the club this season with most Marlow teams well placed in their respective divisions and no team lower than mid-table after eight matches.

Bragging rights currently sit with the Men’s 3s and 4s, and Women’s 5s, all of whom sit top of their tables.

Performance of the weekend came from Marlow’s Men’s 3s who visited joint league leaders Newbury and Thatcham and returned victorious having won 1-0.

Marlow dominated the game, with the Newbury keeper performing heroics throughout. That was until midway through the second half when James Ashburner won and then converted a penalty corner. Marlow’s man of the match went to Josh Mustard, who kept Newbury’s number nine quiet all game.