No seven up for Brakes this time, as they edge past Blues
Sat, 11 Apr 2009 @ Alfred Davis Ground, Marlow.. vs Marlow (1-0). British Gas Business Southern League Midland Division. By P Edwards. Marlow 0 Leamington 1
Another tense afternoon in this Midland Division campaign bought the best possible result for Brakes. Stuart Herlihy's second half goal, our 100th in the league this season, secured another priceless three points, and with news filtering through that Chesham United had scored a late winner at Nuneaton, Leamington's fate is now in their own hands. All the possible outcomes will have been worked out by the supporters, so I will not tempt fate by writing about them here.
Marlow had left the New Windmill Ground on the wrong end of a 7-2 scoreline back in September, but despite this the travelling contingent were aware that this fixture would not be easy, as they had remained in the top half of the table, flirting with the play off positions at one point, and would be keen to put on a good display.
Leamington made a bright start to the game. Chris Kiely claimed an early cross, but the first threat on goal came inevitably from the evergreen Mark Bellingham, who was a little unfortunate with his first touch as the ball was played over the top to him, and the Marlow keeper Kieron Drake closed him down quickly, and blocked the shot. Stuart Herlihy displayed his aerial prowess from a Guy Sanders free kick, powering a header towards goal, but unfortunately it was straight at Drake. Bellingham then wriggled free on the left touchline and saw a low shot blocked. The rebound was fired back by James Husband, but was cleared away. Chris Murphy then fired over after Marcus Jackson set him up.
Aaron Couch clearly has an eye for goal, having netted a hat trick in his sides' win at Bedworth on Tuesday night, and he struck the first shot in anger for the home side, a good effort following a corner, which was blocked before it reached Chris Kiely's goal. A well flighted free kick from Jon Case was wasted by his team mates, the ball drifting behind with no one having attacked it.
Luke Corbett hit a shot high and wide for Leamington, while at the other end Johnny Isaac struck a free kick wide. Steve Palmer, who has not started too many games this season due to injury, took his chance in this one, stepping in for the injured Liam Reynolds, and his immense experience showed, as he broke up play with some fine tackles, and played intelligent passes through midfield to his team mates. The constant breaks in play for free kicks that did not really need to be awarded were frustrating both sides, however. Stuart Herlihy required patching up after sustaining a head wound, but was soon back on the field.
Neither side were taking control of the game, with much of it being played in midfield. Ryan Parisi was fortunate not to be caught out as he tried to turn to hook a high ball clear on the left. Aaron Couch was right behind him, and tried to nick the ball past Parisi, but knocked it out of play. Chris Elsegood headed towards goal from a right wing corner, but the sting was taken out of the effort by covering defenders, and Chris Kiely saved comfortably. Towards the end of the half Alex Cairns was booked for the home side for tugging back Chris Murphy as he steamed through the middle to try and set up Luke Corbett for a shot.
Early in the second half, Kieron Drake did well to punch a well flighted corner kick off the head of Luke Corbett. Jon Case tried an ambitious but well struck shot from way out, after the ball was flicked on to him, but it did not trouble the Leamington goal. Chris Murphy tried his luck from distance, with the same result. The goal that settled this game arrived on 56 minutes. Mark Bellingham was well marshalled for a lot of the game, and he tangled with a defender inside the penalty area, trying to find space for a shot. The ball found its way back to Stuart Herlihy on the edge of the area. He did not strike the shot with great power, but the ball somehow found its way past the diving Kieron Drake and into the corner of the net.
The goalscorer was replaced by Jai Stanley around ten minutes after scoring, presumably after taking a knock. Johnny Isaac tried to get his side back on level terms with a good strike, but Chris Kiely saved. Marcus Jackson had a go from distance, and Kiely saved a header from Johnny Gray. Marlow came agonisingly close to an equaliser when Jermaine Roche swept a dangerous right wing cross into the side netting.
Mark Bellingham finally looked to have found a route through to goal when he burst into the area on the right, but again the keeper was off his line sharply, and the shot ricocheted off the striker and behind to safety. There were to be no more chances for either side, although Drake reached a through ball just before Bellingham, and cleared the ball off his toes. A huge roar from the travelling support greeted the final whistle, as the realisation began to sink in that promotion may be just around the corner.
Marlow: Kieron Drake, Craig Roberts (Jermaine Roche, 65), Johnny Gray, Gavin Lane, Mark Avery, Chris Elsegood, Alex Cairns, Johnny Issac (Seb Neptune, 81), Daniel Stone, Jon Case, Aaron Couch.
Subs not used: Chris Rowley, Ishmael Gyapong, Steve Croxford.
Leamington: Chris Kiely, Marcus Jackson, Ryan Parisi, Adam Cooper, Guy Sanders, Steve Palmer, Stuart Herlihy (Jai Stanley, 66), Luke Corbett (Josh Blake, 82), Mark Bellingham, James Husband.
Subs not used: Martin Hier, Reis Ashraf, Richard Anstiss.