Marlow Women secure first league win with impressive 3-1 triumph over Exeter

Marlow’s Grace Kisby in action. Photo credit: Ian Foster @IFSportsImages

--

Marlow’s Women bounced back from a 7-1 defeat at Cardiff & Met in their last outing to claim their first England Hockey League Conference West victory of the season with a 3-1 home win over Exeter Women.

The Reds came into Saturday’s clash at Pound Lane off the back of three straight defeats, and they’d have been starting to feel the pressure of yet having registered a win this season.

They responded to that pressure in excellent fashion, deservedly winning this clash in front of an appreciative and supportive home crowd.

The home side started well on their own patch and forced some dangerous moments from penalty corners before taking the lead midway through the second quarter through Poppy Godfrey’s reverse stick strike, her first goal of the season.

Exeter rallied as the half wore on and showed the kind of form which took them to a recent 4-1 win over Slough as they levelled matters from a penalty corner.

Marlow took the setback in their stride however and were much the better side after the break with Grace Kisby, Maddie Peacock and Kiera Allen dominating matters in midfield.

They had to be patient, but a second goal arrived with seven minutes to play when Lottie Porter’s rocket of a shot was tipped past the Exeter keeper by Lana Wallis to make it 2-1.

They then saw out the final minutes sensibly, maintaining possession before making the points safe from the final play of the game.

Ruby Balcome’s drag flick flew into the back of the net to put the seal on a well-deserved win and encouraging display.

This Saturday, the team are back on the road in Cheltenham when they visit fourth placed Lansdown HC.

Marlow’s Men find themselves bottom of the England Hockey League Conference West table after four matches after going down to a narrow 3-2 defeat to league leaders Chichester.

The Reds may be bottom of the standings in the early weeks of the season, but they’ll take heart from the way they battled back into contention away to the table toppers on Saturday.

Two of three defeats to date have also been by a single goal so there’s plenty for the side to be encouraged by as they look ahead to their next match at home to Fareham on Sunday (2.45pm).

Chichester made a strong start to this game and were rewarded when Elliot Scott put them in front from the very first play of the game. The Reds were rocked, and they were hitting the ball out of their net once again in the 14th minute when Harry O’Reilly made it 2-0.

Heads could have dropped, but instead, Marlow responded with a goal from Tom McKinley in the 22nd minute after the impressive Joshua Morgans had forced the corner. It was McKinley’s second goal in as many games.

Eight minutes later and the Reds were back on level terms - having taken full advantage of James Davies’ green card in the 23rd minute. Tom Ferris drew the visitors level with his first goal of the season, finishing off a swift counterattack in the 31st minute.

Chichester responded well in the second half, however, upping the intensity to a level Marlow struggled to live with. Will Hunter pulled off an excellent save from a penalty stroke, but the visitors defence was finally breached on the hour mark when a quick free hit was slammed into the circle and Charlie Gibbons diverted the ball beyond Hunter to make it 3-2.

Gibbons was shown a green card a few minutes later, but the hosts managed to hold on for all three points, Marlow unable to take advantage of their numerical advantage like they had in the first period.

The result leaves the Reds bottom of the table on goal difference, however, two of their three defeats this season have been by the odd goal - 3-2 losses to Chichester on Sunday and Bath Buccaneers on the opening day. This Sunday the Reds host fourth placed Fareham at Pound Lane.

Highlights from another successful Saturday for the club - which saw 10 wins, two draws and two defeats - were five goals from Ella Middleton in the Women’s 7s 11-0 drubbing of Newbury and Thatcham 6s; six different scorers for the Men’s 3s in their 6-1 victory over Oxford 3s; goals for mother and daughter combination Lou and Emma Hale in the Women’s 4s 3-1 victory over Wycombe 3s; and a hat trick for Tim Frost in the Men’s 6s narrow 5-4 victory over Amersham and Chalfont 6s.