Laura Ainscough in the Newbury goal, was then called into action, saving well to her right and pushing the ball away for a Marlow corner. Ainscough then collected the corner comfortably and quickly started a Newbury counter attack. This resulted in Newbury’s first corner. The first cross into the box was only half cleared to Sam Atkins, who was lurking just outside the Marlow penalty area. She showed great skill to beat two players, earning herself some space and then she shot from distance. The Marlow keeper was able to make the save though and narrowly avoided spilling the ball, gathering at the second attempt.

Newbury kept Marlow pegged back in their own half and just minutes later opened the scoring, after good work in midfield by Harkness, saw her play a lovely cross-field pass to Reed in space on the far left. She showed good pace to beat the on-rushing goalkeeper to the ball and played a first time finish low into the net for one nil to Newbury.

Going behind so early in the game, jolted Marlow into life and they attacked with vigour after the re-start. Their top scorer, Abi Canvin had a fantastic opportunity when she drew Ainscough out of the Newbury goal, was able to round her and then fire towards an empty net. The effort was blocked on the line however, by Hannah Bryne, who had managed to get back and get her body in the way just in time.

Marlow were level however in very fortuitous circumstances just six minutes later, when a cross-shot came in from wide on the left. It looked to have been over hit, but the ball held up in the wind and luckily for Marlow, dropped just under the cross bar and into the far top corner. 1-1 after 19 minutes. Despite the setback of conceding after starting so well, Newbury held firm for the remainder of the first half and the match stayed tied at one goal apiece at the interval.

Despite their backlog of fixtures, this Marlow Ladies side will undoubtedly be challenging Basingstoke Town Ladies for the Southern Region Women’s Premier Division title come the end of this season. So it was to the huge credit of Newbury Ladies that this made this such a close and intensely fought encounter. Neither side gave a quarter during the second period, with the midfield battle particularly fierce. Marginally, Marlow were able to create the better chances, with Ainscough saving for Newbury after a shot had rebounded back to her off the post. She then pulled off an unbelievable save when Marlow’s Canvin timed her run to beat the off side trap and found herself through on goal. She was one-on-one with Ainscough, but couldn’t beat her, as the Newbury keeper saved from point blank range with the ball striking her face. It was an impossible save and incredibly brave.

Newbury were hanging on and battling to maintain the draw and the scores remained level as the game edged into the closing stages. Time and time again they thwarted Marlow’s attacks, with Sophie Self particularly dominant for Newbury in defence. But then the visitors were dealt a cruel blow as late as the 89th minute, when Canvin chased a long ball and went shoulder to shoulder with Newbury’s Bryne. They both bore down on the penalty area and just as it looked as if Bryne would reach the ball first, Canvin used her body weight to push Bryne in the back and send her sprawling to the floor. Unbelievably the Referee saw no foul and allowed Canvin to continue into the penalty area. This time she was not to be denied and she slotted the ball past Ainscough to give her side the lead. 2-1 now to Marlow, with only one minute of normal time remaining plus stoppages.

Although Newbury were able to force a corner in injury time, they could not convert and the Referee blew seconds after for full time. It was a match that Newbury did not deserve to lose. They had certainly played well enough to take a share of the points, with both Marlow goals having more than a hint of fortune about them. Instead the result sees Marlow move one place above Newbury into 4th.

Match report by Sue Hewett