Hockey: Marlborough men defeated by a team seeking promotion – and getting it

West Wilts   1     Marlborough     0                        

With relegation confirmed the previous week, Marlborough wanted to end their season on a highplaying away at West Wilts. 

Wilts were in second place in the league table and knew that a win would send them up barring an unlikely and bizarre set of results in other games.

The tempo was extremely high to start with Wilts looking to impose themselves on the game early and desperate to find an early goal to calm their nerves.   

Marlborough struggled to find themselves until about mid way through the first half, but from then on were able to play with assurance and rhythm.   Wilts thought they were sure of a break through when they were awarded a penalty flick and Marlborough suffered a ten minute sin bin offence.  Fortunately for Marlborough the resulting flick was missed.

Down to ten men, Marlborough played some of their best hockey and Wilts were left shaken after a couple of close Marlborough shots.  
It was nil-all at half time and the tension was clearly mounting for the home side.

As soon as the second half began Wilts pressed even higher knowing that the next 35 minutes would make or break their season.  

The game ebbed and flowed with Wilts having the upper hand and expertly deploying an attacking press which did not let Marlborough out of their own half for long periods.
The deadlock was finally broken after a misplaced back pass allowed Wilts in for a well struck reverse stick strike.   

Wilts knew they were far from assured the victory and pressed for another goal.  In reply  Marlborough made several quick counter attacks which cut the Wilts defence apart, but they were just unable to turn the moves into goals.

The last few minutes of the game were played out nervously by Wilts with the game ending one-nil and promotion for Wilts ensured.    
It was the end of a long, hard season for Marlborough in which they had applied themselves admirably.  September cannot come around quickly enough to try and regain their position in a league they know the deserve to be in.

TH White Man of the Match was Matt Way.