Marlow Women's 1sts suffer narrow defeat to league leaders Reading 2nds

Marlow supporters at Pound Lane.

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Marlow's women took pride and some confidence from their narrow defeat to league leading Reading 2nds at Pound Lane on Saturday.

Having edged themselves clear of the relegation zone with a crucial victory over Trojans the previous week, the Reds headed into this home clash with nothing to lose and everything to gain.

Reading showed their skill and tenacity throughout the contest, but for large periods they were well matched by their hosts - who are playing in the National League for the first time ever following promotion last season.

The visitors hit the crossbar in the 16th minute while Marlow keeper Alys Ramm made a brilliant double save to keep the scores level. The Reds created chances of their own, but the visitors eventually found a way through the home side's defences in the 33rd minute. A superb run from Reading's midfielder led to a strike that Ramm could do nothing about.

Marlow forced a few penalty corners in the second half, but they couldn’t capitalise on them. Their hopes of a comeback were then quashed when Reading scored their second of the game in the dying minutes following a skilful team move.

Marlow 2nds rose to the top of the league with an impressive 3-2 victory over previously unbeaten Wallingford on Saturday, a result that should reinforce the view the Reds can win the title this season.

Jazzy Elsden got their opener, deflecting the ball home from a corner in the early stages, while a field goal from Tanya Lumley doubled the Reds' advantage before the break. However, Wallingford responded well in a bid to protect their unbeaten record. They converted from a corner to make it 2-1 and then levelled the scores following a slick counterattack.

The outcome was now very much in the balance, with player of the match Holly Lochead, Rosa Cook and Anna Needham doing well to nullify Wallingford as an attacking threat.

Cheered on by a vocal home support, the Reds secured their victory when a corner was slapped across the face of the goal by Lumley for Xiao, who touched it into Lochhead's path, and she clinically converted to make it 3-2.

Elsewhere the women's third team lost 3-1 to Newbury & Thatcham 1sts away, the 4ths lost 4-1 against Newbury and Thatcham 2nds, the 5ths were beaten 1-0 away by Reading 6ths, the 6ths defeated Maidenhead 4ths 3-1 and the 7ths lost 2-0 to South Berkshire 3rds.

On Sunday, the 3rd team drew 1-1 with Witney 2nds and the 5ths were beaten 2-0 by South Berkshire 3rds.

Marlow's men boosted their own title and promotion hopes with an impressive 4-1 win away to Amersham & Chalfont on Saturday.

The game was more hard-fought than the scoreline suggested and the Reds only managed to get away from their hosts in the closing stages of the second half.

After a cagey first period, and no goals, Amersham took the lead from a penalty corner within minutes of the restart.

Marlow levelled matters through Alex Land and claimed the ascendancy from there on in.

Sam North scored from one of several penalty corners before Chris Brown made it 3-1 with a deft deflection. The Reds were comfortable after that and a fourth followed in the last few minutes when Josh Covus slotted home after going through one-on-one with the keeper.

The result sees Marlow go into the half-term break on top of the table.

The 2nd team were left feeling they deserved much more from Saturday's 2-1 defeat at home to an experienced and well-organised Eastcote 1sts side.

Despite having a reasonable share of possession in the first half, the Reds went into the break trailing by two goals. The second half was a different affair entirely with Marlow putting the visitors under intense pressure from a series of short corners without converting.

They did eventually manage to convert when Sam Nicholson - who had made several surging runs - found the net.

Marlow's defence, well marshalled by Phil Cowell, kept Eastcote at bay as the Reds went in search of an equaliser, but they couldn’t get the second goal their play probably deserved.

Other results saw the 3rd team beat Oxford University 3rds 4-2, the 4ths defeat Oxford 4ths 6-0 away, the 5ths lose 4-0 to Amersham & Chalfont 4ths, the 6ths defeat Yateley 3rds 3-1 and the 7ths beat Wallingford 8-4 away.