Marlow Blow

Pitching In Southern League Premier Division South

Marlow 2 (Nawaf 28, D'Aversa 67)

Tiverton Town 1 (Billington 55)

Tuesday, January 14 . 7.45pm . Alfred Davis Memorial Ground

REALISTICALLY, despite many games and opportunities to turn things around, for the time being we have to accept that our league position is fragile and we have to get in the habit of winning games if our worst fears are not to be realised.

This setback at prime relegation candidates Marlow, in what was a tense affair because of the nature of its reward for getting over the line, resulted in a numbing conclusion. Rob Dray and his coaching staff will be working hard, I know, to provide solutions to what has become an ongoing situation.

The Yellows had to do without Dylan Jones and Matt Britton, was deemed fit enough only to take his place on the bench. Full-back Sam Gleeson, who is on loan at Wellington, started, as did Jeff Forkuo and Gabe Billington. Other options amongst the substitutes were new midfield loan signing Charlie Cummins, Kai Churchley and Josh Bernard.

This evening game’s first chance went to Tiverton, but a rising shot from close range kept on going and cleared the crossbar. The lively home side attacking player Naheer Nawaf then saw his effort ricochet off a Tivvy defender to go behind for a corner. That corner and another which was volleyed without power and nestled in Joe Duncan’s arms were delivered without alarm.

The game had been fairly even as both sides fought for the ascendancy although, in the 28th minute, the increasingly dangerous Nawaf produced a moment of quality when sent through in on goal and dinked an effort over Duncan that opened the scoring.

Marlow, with a spring in their step, then tried to force the issue as successive corners followed.

The Yellows responded with a period of sustained pressure. A good reaction save was needed from Ryan North in the Blues’ goal to palm away a goalbound close-range attempt from Tivvy. Josh Masters then hastily cleared as the visitors flooded the box in pursuit of an equaliser before half-time.

But for North’s agility in making another telling stop on the verge of the interval, the Yellows would have gone in level. The atmosphere in both dressing-rooms will have been contrasting but the same ambition to win this game will have been at the forefront of the players’ and coaches’ minds.

Marlow settled the quickest when the match restarted, Tiverton clearing to safety in the 48th minute. Mo Jallow whistled a shot fractionally wide and then Duncan got down well to prevent forward Stefan Brown from extending the hosts’ advantage when 53 minutes had elapsed.

It was the Yellows, though, that scored the next goal, Gabe Billington doubling his tally for Tivvy with a clinical finish after good pressure from the visitors. 

Gabe Billington: Second Tivvy goal

This sparked Marlow into a determined reaction and a flurry of corners had to be defended and Rob Dray’s men held firm.

Then the pendulum appeared to be swinging as Tiverton pegged the Blues back and gained a few corners of their own, piling on the pressure in a strong five-minute period. Marlow were resolute and withstood a physical examination from us.

The impressive Nawaf then slalomed his way through the Yellows’ defence and his shot was blocked at the expense of a corner. Marlow recycled the ball after the delivery went in and Seb D’Aversa turned home to regain the lead for our hosts in the 67th minute.

Midfielder Harry Hoath and Leyton Orient loanee Anduan Hadjdini then took aim as the Blues looked to build a cushion. A 77th-minute header from Tivvy almost restored parity as the Yellows desperately sought out an equaliser. North, though, handled well and, irregardless of Rob Dray’s side’s efforts, the home side prevailed.

A tough night on the coalface for Tiverton, but there is little time to dwell on what has gone. The Yellows are back in action on Saturday when they travel to the capital to face lower mid-table Hanwell. The Geordies’ earlier visit to Ladysmead brought them a narrow 2-1 victory in November; a win at the weekend for Tivvy would see us move just Three points behind our hosts.

Yellows: Duncan; Thompson, J Jones (c), Down, Gleeson, Hall, Forkuo, Billington, Day, Jarvis, Parker. Substitutes: Churchley, Cummins, Britton, Bernard.