Marlborough 2 Westbury and United Banks 1
Marlborough welcomed Westbury and United Banks last Saturday (November 22), with the home side hopeful they could add another three points to a successful first half of the season.
Marlborough were forced into something of a rejig in their team selection: Anil Sud was unavailable. And Stephen Way was also absent due to his work commitments so Hamish Fyfe filled that missing spot in the squad.
Marlborough began the game in excellent fashion with the defence and midfield keeping possession of the ball for long spells. The home side continued to exert pressure on Westbury’s defence with Will Radnedge and John Bromley both sending shots flying past the far post.
Skipper Rich Holman then rattled the post before the Westbury keeper saved well from a Dan Crossman shot. However, the pressure finally told when Will Hughes scored a superb volleyed lob into the far corner.
The half time whistle blew with Marlborough holding a comfortable 1-0 lead.
Westbury came out with renewed purpose in the second half and Marlborough began to lose some of the control they had worked so hard to establish.
The challenge became even harder for Marlborough when Matt Way was sent to the sin bin for the second time this season for what can only be described as a ‘horror tackle’. We wish the Westbury player all the best for his recovery.
Eventually, despite some midfield heroics from Jonty Moore, Marlborough succumbed to the pressure and Westbury scored a deserved equaliser.
It’s fair to say that in previous seasons, Marlborough may have settled for the point at this stage in the game, but the home side dug deep and began to regain control of the game.
Matt Way returned to add some steel to midfield and Duncan Lorrain’s tireless running up front was creating gaps in Westbury’s defence. Finally, ten minutes from the end, Marlborough won a penalty flick. Chris Jones stepped confidently up and arrowed the ball into the roof of the net… 2-1 to Marlborough.
The last five minutes were something of an anti-climax as Dan Crossman dribbled the ball into the corner, but eventually the final whistle signalled another home win.
Marlborough are now in third place in the league table, but with two other clubs with the same number of points – it’s the goals that count. Marlborough travel to Bath next week for a top of the table clash.
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