Marlow beat MK Dons to reach Berks & Bucks Cup final for a second year running

Dave Tarpey scored a first half brace for the Blues. Photo: Steven Galvin

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Marlow 4, Milton Keynes Dons 2

A brace from Dave Tarpey and one each from Kai Hamilton-Olise and Dawid Rogalski saw the Blues progress to the final of the Berks & Bucks Senior Cup this evening (Tuesday) with a 4-2 victory over a youthful Milton Keynes Dons side at Oak Tree Road.

Having wrapped up second place in the Isthmian League South Central Division with Saturday's win at South Park, Mark Bartley's side could focus their attention on the visit of League 2 MK Dons for this semi-final clash, and they produced a fantastic display on their own turf to book their place in the final for a second successive season.

Reading FC lie in wait for the Blues in the final at Slough Town's Arbour Park ground on Tuesday, May 14.

Entertaining game under the lights tonight at @MarlowFC as the hosts get the better of a young @MKDonsFC side to get back to our @BerksandBucksFA Senior Cup Final pic.twitter.com/5MrfFoRLL3

— Hans Cook (@Hans_BBFA) April 23, 2024

Marlow started well under the lights at Oak Tree Road, with Josh Masters' corner causing panic in the Dons' defence in the opening minutes before Toby Raggett forced a smart save from the visiting keeper Stacey.

MK Dons also had their moments, with Aaron Watkins pulling off an instinctive save from a near post flick in the 15th minute.

But the hosts took the lead a minute later when Raggett crossed for Tarpey who supplied the finish from five yards out.

Tarpey then had his second of the night in the 25th minute when he was the sharpest to react to a goalmouth scramble and slammed the ball home.

MK Dons pulled a goal back before half-time with a fantastic strike from outside the area from Callum Tripp.

Tarpey might have had a hat-trick in the 40th minute when he went clean through on goal and was denied by Stacey.

A third goal was eventually celebrated by the 286 supporters inside Oak Tree Road in the 70th minute when Hamilton-Olise tapped home from close range after Stacey had parried Raggett's initial effort.

The drama was far from over however, and nerves were jangling once again when Tripp scored his second with a snapshot inside the box in the 75th minute.

But the Blues wrapped up their place in the final when Tarpey played a lovely one-two with Josh Boorn and crossed for his strike partner, Rogalski, to score with a lovely flick.

Having lost narrowly to Bracknell Town in the final last season, the Blues will be keen to go one better in the competition this time around but before that they'll also have their sights set on promotion via the play-offs in the league.

They're set to host the league's fifth placed side, currently Westfield, at home on Wednesday, May 1, 7.45pm kick-off, and if they were to win, they'd be at home again for the final on Sunday, May 5.