Although their pre-match preparation had been good, the game began disastrously for Newbury, as they conceded within 2 minutes of Marlow kicking off. The visitors failed to clear the first Marlow attack and they also left a blues striker unmarked inside the 6 yard box. With the ball bobbling around in the area, it was inevitably deflected into the path of the number 9 and she had a simple tap in, with Laura Ainscough, Newbury’s goalkeeper, completely helpless and unprotected.

Marlow were buoyed by their one nil lead and they had all the early possession. Newbury needed their keeper to be alert and to come quickly off her line on a couple of occasions to sweep up and clear Marlow passes over the top of defence. After the first 20 minutes had passed, the play became more even and Newbury gradually started to carve out one or two half chances of their own.

On 21 minutes, Newbury Captain, Leanne Creese was so close to being played in, after a good passing move from deep that was started by Sophie Self to Caz Harkness. Her through ball split the Marlow defence and nearly sent Creese clear on goal, but for one last covering defender that managed to keep Newbury at bay.

Marlow nearly extended their lead with one long range shot that hit the cross bar. Fortunately, Newbury escaped that scare and they went onto finish the half the stronger. Harkness had a good effort from the edge of the area on 32 minutes, after a right wing cross from Creese, but she half volleyed her shot just over the bar.

That move signalled attack after attack from Newbury, as they went in search of an equaliser. The Marlow goalkeeper was called upon as their last line of defence almost continuously. Then on the stroke of half time from a Newbury corner, two headers were agonisingly cleared off the line. First, Lorna Parr headed goalward, but with the goalkeeper beaten, up popped a Marlow defender to clear with a header. The loose ball was attacked with an immediate returning header from Newbury’s Sophie Self. Again, almost impossibly Newbury were denied a certain goal by another defensive header from right under the cross bar.

Nobody knew how the ball had stayed out of the Marlow net, but it had and Newbury remained one goal behind at the half time break. So for the second week running, Newbury were to require a second half comeback.

As the Marlow one nil lead was still intact on 65 minutes, substitute Kirsty Parfett was introduced for Newbury. Within one minute of the change, Leanne Creese pounced on a poor clearance by the keeper and from 35 yards she fired an incredible first time shot back over the goalkeeper’s head. The ball sailed into the gaping net and it was a truly magnificent goal that put Newbury back on level terms at 1-1.

Again Newbury were undone by a lapse in concentration and Marlow were back in front just 2 minutes later. Newbury backed off and allowed the home side to press forward from the re-start. Marlow’s striker collected a pass in a central area just outside the box. As she wasn’t closed down quickly enough, she turned and shot, finding the top corner of the Newbury goal. 2-1 now the score-line with 23 minutes remaining.

The match looked like it might unravel for Newbury, as they were forced to withdraw substitute Parfett due to injury on 74 mins. A re-shuffle followed, which saw Gemma Burnett enter the fray as a centre forward. After good work in attack by Harkness and Ruby Oliver, the move broke down, but Burnett showed good tenacity to win the ball straight back for Newbury on the edge of the penalty area. She then played an exquisite through ball into the path of Rachel Panting, who had beaten the off side with a late surging run. She showed superb composure to pick her spot and pass the ball accurately into the far bottom corner.

It was now two goals apiece and only 14 minutes of the match remained. Neither side could find a winner however and there was to be no dramatic ending this week. A 2-2 draw was the final score, but Newbury definitely felt they could have and should have taken more from the game. On reflection, Newbury have played their first two away games and have taken 4 points from a possible 6, which is a good return.

The next fixture for Newbury Ladies FC is on Sunday 15 September and is their third away match in a row. They travel to Southampton Women, who have recently been relegated into the Southern Region Division One. Kick-off is at 2pm and Newbury will be hoping they can maintain their unbeaten start to the season.

Match Report by Sue Hewett