Newbury were defending well, but they were grateful to goalkeeper, Laura Ainscough, on several occasions when she read the danger and came out to block and save from the feet of the onrushing Marlow strikers to foil a couple of one-on-one opportunities. After increasing Marlow pressure, the deadlock was broken on the half hour mark, when striker, Abi Canvin, skipped round her marker and then stroked the ball home past Ainscough to give the home side a one nil lead.

After that setback, Newbury re-grouped and looked to take more of the initiative in attack. They were awarded a free kick on 40 minutes, after Caroline Harkness was fouled. Leanne Creese stepped up to take the kick and she smashed the ball goal-wards from 30 yards, forcing the Marlow keeper to produce a flying fingertip save from just under the cross bar. She prevented what looked a certain goal and Newbury had to settle for the resultant corner. Reed swung the set piece in and Marlow failed to clear at the first attempt. The ball bobbled around inside the area, falling to Creese, who couldn’t get a clean strike on it. Her mis-hit shot was going to be off target, but at the last moment Harkness rushed in to connect with her head, but agonisingly still saw the ball glance narrowly wide.

Both chances had been very good opportunities for Newbury and it wouldn’t have been unwarranted for the visitors to have got back on level terms at the break. So despite Newbury finishing the half strongly, Marlow got to half time with their slender one nil lead still intact.

The second period started in the same vein as the first, with Newbury predominantly camped in their own half and Marlow searching for a way through. Newbury’s defence held firm until just after the hour, when the Referee ignored an off side and then seconds later awarded Marlow a penalty for a clumsy Newbury challenge inside the box. It was harsh on Newbury, as the spot kick was dispatched ruthlessly. Marlow now with a 2 goal cushion.

The 2 nil score-line would prove to be good enough to give Marlow Ladies safe passage into the next round, even though Newbury continued to battle until the final whistle. Both Creese and Nicole Beesley went close with shots from distance in the closing stages, but despite the valiant effort across the whole Newbury team, there was to be no comeback this time. The match finished with Marlow recording a 2 nil victory.

Report by Sue Hewett.