Marlborough Men’s 1st XI vs Cardiff UWIC Marlborough lose 4-2
Saturday, October 6: After a tough loss the previous week, Marlborough travelled away hoping to replicate their battling performance the previous year in a hard fought game against Cardiff & UWIC.
The game began at a break neck speed with Cardiff dominant and displaying masterful control and passing accuracy on their quick, bouncy pitch. Within minutes they had opened the scoring from a tight angle after a series of shots and defensive clearances.
With Marlborough yet to find their feet in the game, Cardiff pushed on further and soon doubled their lead after a drag flick from a slick short corner routine.
With plenty of time of the first half yet to play Marlborough were in danger of losing the game before it had barely begun. After their shaky start, they settled down to a much better rhythm and began creating chances of their own with good play down both flanks. Unfortunately the finishing ball was not put away and the Cardiff goalkeeper remained untested. However this changed just before half time when Will Seward scored a drag flick from Marlborough’s only shot of the half -cutting the deficit in half.
The second half began in a continuation of much of the first half action with Cardiff enjoying the majority of possession and creating the more open chances. Their quick, decisive play was rewarded with another goal direct from a short corner after a pinpoint drag flick found the bottom right corner. To their credit Marlborough pulled another goal back, somewhat against the run of play, with Seward again the scorer after a goal mouth melee. This led to a rather nervy final few minutes for Cardiff, who were desperate not to surrender their lead.
The result of the game was finally settled after another brilliant drag flick from Cardiff ended Marlborough’s hopes of a comeback. The game ended 4-2 with Cardiff the deserved winners and Marlborough’s Alex Milton voted Man of the Match for great work under constant pressure.
Marlborough Men’s 1st XI vs Truro Marlborough lose 4-1
Saturday, October 13: Despite having yet to register a win this season, Marlborough went into the third game with some confidence against a strong Truro outfit who had won their previous game 5-0. The home game started off evenly with Truro showing no signs of lethargy after their long journey to Marlborough and they soon took the upper hand and started dominating possession and making some sharp attacks down both flanks.
Their efforts were rewarded when they took the lead after a snap shot finish from a tight angle. The lead was soon doubled after some fortuitous play in the ‘d’ allowed the Truro striker an open goal just on the stroke of half time.
The half-time break allowed Marlborough skipper, Rich Holman, to rally his troops in an attempt to mount a comeback. Marlborough started the second half brightly and as the game became stretched due to fatigue, had several chances of their own but unfortunately were unable to convert them. Truro pressed their advantage home and with further sharp work up front made the score 3-0 before ending any hopes of a Marlborough comeback with a fourth.
To their credit Marlborough continued to press forward without giving up and were awarded a penalty flick after Holman had a shot illegally stopped on the line. Anil Sud converted to make the score 4-1 with two minutes remaining. The last couple of minutes were played out with both sides scrapping for the ball in midfield leaving the final result a 4-1 win for the visiting side.