Tarpey displays predatory instincts as Marlow sweep aside Met Police

Dave Tarpey in action against the Met Police. Credit: Steven Galvin. Info@StevenGalvin.Photography

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Dave Tarpey netted a clinical hat-trick for the Blues on Saturday as Marlow swept aside the Metropolitan Police with a minimum of fuss to strengthen their hopes of at least a play-off finish this season.

An awful Christmas period, which brought little festive cheer and three straight defeats had seen Mark Bartley’s side dip outside of the play-off spots for the first time in several months.

However, they’ve responded in fantastic fashion – having not really played at all badly during those consecutive losses – and three wins and a draw from their last four games have hoisted the Blues back up to fourth in the Isthmian League South Central table.

Tarpey displayed all his predatory instincts as he scored twice in the first half for the Blues, however, sandwiched in between was the goal of the game - possibly even the goal of the season - from Brandon Curtis.

The contest had just passed the half-hour mark when the ball was laid into his path from a left-wing free-kick and Curtis smashed the ball home from distance, the ball fading away from the diving keeper before hitting the back of the net.

At the age of 35, former Maidenhead United striker Tarpey then completed his hat-trick in the 66th minute and the Blues saw out the remainder of the game for a very comfortable home win.

Saturday’s 4-0 win moves the Blues onto 44 points, seven points behind leaders Chertsey, who they were due to play at Oak Tree Road on Tuesday before the club were forced into a disappointingly late postponement.

Having initially called their game with The Curfews on, following a 3pm pitch inspection, the Blues later called the game off only an hour before kick-off as temperatures plummeted and the pitch hardened. It angered many visiting fans many of whom had already started making their way to the ground or were already in Marlow.

Reflecting on Saturday’s impressive win, Bartley posted: “Really pleased with our work in a game where a hat-trick and a wonder strike were complemented by our clean sheet which earned us three points.

“Our opening 10/15 minutes wasn’t quite there, but from then on we were in control and look to be getting back to the level we want to be at.”

Whether that level is enough to challenge the likes of Chertsey and Southall for the title remains to be seen. The Blues have given themselves work to do on that front, but Bartley expects their rivals to go through their own sticky spells this season and you sense he feels he has the squad, and quality at his disposal to make a sustained challenge for the title this season.

Next up for the Blues is a trip to fifth-placed Raynes Park Vale on Saturday, the team they skipped above with Saturday’s win over the Met Police. Bartley’s side have tasted success there already this season when Dawid Rogalski’s goal earned them a 1-0 win in the FA Trophy.