MARLOW extended their winning streak in the Middx, Berks, Bucks & Oxon Regional One to four matches after a 2-1 victory at Oxford University 2s on Saturday.

The team produced some of their best hockey of the season in a very disciplined performance and the score hardly did justice to the way the visitors to the university played.

The goals scorers were Chris Sutton and Luke Stone while Marcus Tarrant was on target for the home side.

The win means Marlow remain in third position in the table and a single point behind rivals Amersham & Chalfont as well as narrowing the gap on leaders Reading 2s to five points.

Marlow return to Pound Lane for the visit of fifth-placed OMT this Saturday (3pm).

The second team welcomed Banbury 2s to Pound Lane keen to make amends for a 7-1 defeat in the reverse fixture earlier in the season.

Both sides started well and Marlow were creative but could not quite turn their build up play into goals. The breakthrough goal eventually came courtesy of Jacob Gunn.

Banbury pressed higher up the pitch in the second half and were eventually rewarded with an equaliser from Jamie Boardman.

The hosts suffered a blow when a shot from David Hand hit James Ashburner on the knee cap ending his participation in the game.

With five minutes still to play another short corner saw Mav Girn hit the ball hard across the D looking for a deflection. Instead it found its way into the net off a foot.

Banbury protested it hit a Marlow player first but the umpires awarded the goal.

The means Marlow have consolidated fourth position in the MBB&O Regional Two ahead of a trip to third-placed Wallingford this Saturday (1.15pm).

The Marlow ladies travelled to South West London to take on Spencer and suffered a narrow 1-0 defeat in Division One of the South Club’s Hockey League.

Marlow had keeper Dibs Haisman to thank for a number of good saves, but the Spencer goal came from a counter attack through the middle of the pitch with a shot deflected into the net.

The visitors came out stronger in the second half and had chances in the final 10 minutes in which the home keeper and defence made several goal line saves.

The defeat means Marlow have dropped one place to seventh position in the table ahead of a visit to Pound Lane from Maidenhead this Saturday.

The Marlow Under 10s boys took part in the Bucks Cup and finished as runners-up on goal difference which qualifies the team for the regional finals.

Marlow U16s boys beat Wycombe 4-0 at home last Thursday to advance into the next round of the National Knock Out Cup.

Bucks Free Press:

  • SIR William Borlase Grammar School student Will Hunter has been awarded the Leap Talented Athlete Bursary at an awards ceremony in Bisham Abbey last week.

The bursary aims to support players who achieve national level places.

Hunter is a very talented goalkeeper at Marlow and does a huge amount of volunteering as a young leader helping with the next generation of keepers.