Red card proves costly as Marlow's momentum stalls but Flackwell battle back to win

Goalkeeper James Sharlott was sent off for a dangerous tackle and striker Mitch Parker was forced to go in goal as Marlow collapsed to a 2-0 defeat at Aylesbury United on Wednesday night.

This game pivoted on the dismissal of Sharlott in the 26th minute and Aylesbury were able to take full advantage, scoring through Jake Bewley’s free kick in the 30th minute before Ayo Akinbobola all but finished off the Blues’ hopes in first half stoppage time.

To their credit, the Blues battled valiantly with 10 men in the second half, with Parker pulling off some fine saves, and manager Mark Bartley felt they did enough to perhaps take something from the game.

Afterwards he said he was ‘super proud’ of their effort and work rate on a difficult night.

In truth it’s been a difficult week for the Blues whose recent good run has been stalled by Saturday’s 4-1 defeat at Milton Keynes Irish and Wednesday’s setback at Aylesbury.

Marlow had been climbing the table following a run of four straight wins in the league and five wins in seven matches, but they’ve suffered a couple of unexpected setbacks this week and it will be interesting to see how they respond at home to Stotfold on Saturday.

Bartley reflected with more positivity on the Blues start and finish to Wednesday’s clash. In the second half. Shamar Moore shot straight at the Aylesbury keeper after going on a good run while Kwesi Ntim also went close with an effort that flashed just wide of the post. It just wasn’t Marlow’s night.

Speaking to club media after the loss, Bartley said: “Let me start by saying I’m super proud of the boys today. You get one or two of these games a season where you get a decision that’s made. I’ve no real issue with the referee, but the response of the boys when you lose your goalkeeper and have to put your centre forward in goal. It was a bit of a mess, but there was no giving up from the boys and in the second half I felt we created enough to maybe get something from the game.

“I’m super proud of the boys for their effort, their work rate and their desire. I’m disappointed with the result, but you get one or two of these a season where a decision is made and you just have to run with it.”

It was a tale of two halves for Marlow at Milton Keynes Irish on Saturday.

Having dominated the first half, they took the lead through Mitch Parker’s strike in the 17th minute, but despite creating several good chances, they weren’t able to build on that lead. Mason Spence (36') grabbed a goal back before half-time for Irish who then took the game away from the visitors with goals from James Meadows (68'), Harry Guess (81') and Meadows again from the penalty spot in the second half.

The result leaves them just a place and a couple of points above Flackwell Heath who managed to shake off their recent indifferent run of form with a 3-1 home win over Beaconsfield Town on Tuesday night.

The Heathens had managed only one win in 11 matches in all competitions heading into Tuesday’s clash at Wilks Park, but they built on last week’s spirited fightback to draw against Northwood to finally get back to winning ways.

Again, they had to come from behind to claim the points. Beaconsfield managed to strike first blood through Zak Fraser-Grante (15') but Jake Shakespeare levelled the scores on the half-hour mark when he raced onto Anyanwu’s through ball and made no mistake to slot home.

The dismissal of Beaconsfield’s Joshua Stranks just after the hour mark further tipped the balance in Flackwell’s favour, and they took full advantage.

Lewis Pegg smashed home their second from the edge of the box in the 68th minute before Eli Grant finished the job off in stoppage time with his second goal in as many games

Flackwell may now fancy their chances of getting on an unbeaten run. They go to bottom of the table Enfield on Saturday, who were trounced 7-0 by Hertford Town on Tuesday evening.

Speaking afterwards, Chris Ayres said: “It was a good performance from us today. I thought we deserved to win the game.

“We had plenty of chances to make the scoreline more emphatic.

“I’m pleased the boys put in a performance that relates to how we are as a club, high energy, pass the ball well. Our combination play was brilliant, and the desire and attitude were brilliant today.

“We were disappointed to go 1-0 down, and the way things have been going they could have crumbled with that. But they showed great character and resilience to bounce back.

“We could have come in leading. The red card in the second half helped us, it gave us the advantage, and we were able to use the ball well against 10 men.”