Reds rise: Marlow's women climb clear while men move second after statement win

Tom McKinlay, scorer of two of Marlow M1’s goals, and Jess Rees, scorer of the W1’s second goal.

Pictures courtesy of @gmwsportphoto

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Marlow’s men and women both picked up crucial wins in the England Hockey West Conference this weekend, with the women moving themselves further clear of the relegation scrap and the men moving up to second in the table.

The women were in action in Exeter on Saturday, a tough away fixture against a team who started the day level on points with them. They also had to contend with the long journey and the Devon side’s notoriously slow and sandy pitch.

The Reds began strongly and created two or three attacking opportunities in the opening minutes. At the other end Exeter forced two early penalty corners but Marlow’s composed defending saw the danger averted.

Late in the first quarter, the visitors took the lead. A penetrating cross from Marlow captain Kiera Allen found Ruby Balcombe unmarked at the back post and she tucked the ball home.

Marlow had more good chances in the second quarter, but they went into half-time with just the one goal lead.

Exeter improved in the third quarter, but Alys Ramm and her defence soaked up the pressure and remained calm in possession. The Reds thought they’d doubled their lead in the final quarter, when Kerri Smith put the ball past the keeper, but the referee blew for an offence in Exeter’s favour.

Jess Rees-Gray eventually calmed any nerves when she reverse-swept a shot over the keeper to make the final score 2-0. The win lifts the side back to sixth in the table, but it was hard-earned with the Reds suffering two suspected concussions, a broken nose and an ankle injury.

Marlow’s youngest player Tilly Olney was voted player of the match after putting in an excellent shift in defence.

Marlow’s men welcomed Chichester to Pound Lane for a top of the table clash on Sunday and claimed with an excellent victory on a rare sunny afternoon.

The game started with a bang as Callum White forced the ball home from close range in only the first minute. Chichester equalised from their first penalty corner only a minute later, while Marlow were unsuccessful from another early penalty corner as the action ebbed and flowed.

They restored their lead in the 12th minute when White rounded the keeper and slotted home his second of the game. The second quarter produced fewer chances for both teams, but the home side remained in control of the game through to half-time.

A rare Chichester attack resulted in a penalty corner for the visitors, but that was well saved, high to his left by Marlow keeper Will Hunter. And it proved a turning point with the home side extending their lead from their fifth penalty corner, this time comprehensively despatched by Tom McKinlay.

The home side scored a fourth two minutes from time with a tremendous team goal which encapsulated all that was good about this performance. An aerial from captain Sam North was beautifully received by Tom Ferris, who after a couple of moments of magic played a beautiful pass to Louis Cadinouche, who unselfishly played it first time for McKinlay to apply the finishing touch for his second goal.

A measure of Marlow’s dominance is that the popular view amongst spectators was that Chichester’s goalkeeper Chris Bristow was their man of the match. They were in no way flattered by the 4-1 scoreline.

Marlow climb to second in the table and still harbour hopes of promotion.