Robinsons 1 - 4 Marlborough

Marlborough went into the fixture on the back of a week's break to allow many of the team to celebrate the wedding of (former???) 1st Team player Ed Gosling and Kat Fuller, Congratulations!

It was a very different looking Marlborough team who travelled to Badminton school for a 3pm push back in the Bristol gloom. 1st Team debuts were given to Freddie Hazlitt, Mark Kinder and Mark Ramage with Charlie Ponder also making a return to the team.

This turn around of players showed in Marlborough early play with lots of turnovers happening with the final pass being slightly misplaced. Rather surprising Marlborough took an early lead following some good interplay down the right hand side of the pitch, the initial shot hit the far post and Rich Fynn reacted quickest to put the ball into the empty net. Marlborough began to settle into the game and extended their lead when returning captain Anil Sud found space in side the circle to finish well at the back post.

Unfortunately Marlborough's turnovers began to creep back into their play with uncharacteristic errors being made, it was form one of these that Robinsons narrowed Marlborough lead following a swing and a miss by their forward who then proceeded to slot the ball into the corner with the Marlborough defenders expecting the whistle to be blown.

Marlborough rallied well from this and put together a period of pressure which ultimately resulted in Mark Ramage firing the ball past the keeper to see the halftime score 3-1.

Marlborough knew they hadn't played their best hockey and so began the second half confidently, they kept the ball much better in the second half and started to control the game. Robinsons continued to threaten on the counter but controlled front marking from Rich Holman and Charlie Ponder kept their chances to a minimum. Marlborough put the game to bed with 10 minutes to go when Rich Fynn once again showed his forward instincts by latching on to a rebound from the keeper and finishing the ball ell into the corner of the goal.

Whilst Marlborough never really played the sort of hockey they are capable of, winning the game in such a clinical manner with a large number of changes to the team shows the strength in depth in the squad this year. They enter into next weekends double header knowing the 2 wins from those games would see them sitting comfortably at the top of the league.

Man of the Match was awarded to debutant Mark Kinder for his work rate through the midfield and excellent distribution to create several scoring opportunities

D*** of the day was "awarded" to Charlie 'Sat Nav' Ponder who we can only assume is still somewhere driving around Bristol looking for their Clubhouse.