Marlborough 3 Old Bristolians 1
With Marlborough on the losing side the previous week against North Somerset, it was important to get back to winning ways as there was now a mini league being created at the top of the league.
The Old Bristolians were well organised, strong in defense and quick on the counter attack, but with the lion’s share of possession, Marlborough created a few chances. Most notably two shots cleared off the line, one of which may have been awarded penalty stroke.
That said, it was the Old Bristolians who took the lead: a mistake in defense allowed them to attack quickly and an Old Bristolian forward rounded the keeper and slotted home to leave the visitors 1-0 at the break.
With Marlborough in control of the game, all that was required was for them to exert themselves better in the last third and that is exactly what happened.
Marlborough were awarded a short corner and from a rebound, Anil Sud did what can only be described in footballing terms as a ‘back heel’ with his stick and the ball found the net 1-1. Game on!
With the home team now pinning back the visitors’ defence, Marlborough got a second with a well worked breakaway goal. After good work from seasoned pro Garweth Playfair, he passed the ball square for Sud to round the keeper and get his second of the game: 2-1!
What happened next was rather strange and slightly difficult to follow… The home side lost play-maker and midfield dynamo Sud, when he was accidentally taken out when through on goal. He dislocated his shoulder and iwaswhisked off to A&E.
A few moments later Keir Headley fired in a drag flick from a short corner into the bottom corner of the goal to make the score 3-1, putting the home side firmly in control.
Then, moments later, player/coach Matt Way was taken out and could take no further part in the game, leaving Marlborough to play with ten men for the last ten minutes.
Marlborough rallied and worked so hard to stop The Old Bristolians getting through, with solid, yet at times panicked defending. But they held firm to see out the game – ending it 3-1 and a deserved win for Marlborough.
The Marlborough News Online man of the match was Anil Sud. But a special mention has to go to Worcester Borden and Rhys Davis who both, at 15-years-old, ran the forward line superbly all game, particularly in the last ten minutes
