Bristol Uni 1 - 2 Marlborough

Marlborough continued their push for promotion by picking up a valuable win over fellow high flyers Bristol Uni.

Marlborough's 15 man squad made the familiar drive up the M4 knowing the match would be very different from the day before where all of the opposition's play came from a single player.

The game started with both teams showing each other respect but Bristol Uni making the better of the play with neat interchanges of passing. During the opening spell Brian Marnane was forced into a couple of reaction saves which kept the game level. Marlborough began to grow into the game but were just unable to connect with the final pass.

Half time arrived with the scores level and the game flowing well from end to end. At half time Marlborough made a tactical shift in their press to force the Bristol Uni defenders into playing higher risk passes in the hope of creating more turnovers. This plan worked well and it allowed Marlborough to exert more of a dominance in territory.

Unfortunately Marlborough fell behind when they lost concentration at a free hit just outside their circle, a lack of communication meant that no-one defended the route to goal and their forward was able to convert an uncontested shot from the edge of the circle.

Marlborough didn't let this moment dampen their spirits and began to press higher up the pitch, it was from one of these situations that Marlborough were able to draw level. Matt Way started the move by throwing a cross-field aerial from a sideline hit to allow Rich Holman space to advance the ball forward, the initial ball into the circle has half stopped but Anil Sud managed to pounce onto the loose ball and play it forward to the P spot where Matt Way was now waiting. He held off his defender, rolled onto his strong side and slipped the ball past the onrushing keeper into the back of the net.

Marlborough felt a real shift in the momentum and fully believed that all 3 points were there to be won. They proved to be right when a nice interchange of passing down the right hand side of the pitch allowed the ball to be played into the circle. As the ball came across it was redirected towards the back post where it was gratefully finished off by Mark Kinder.

Marlborough closed the game out without any further scares and now sit clear at the top of the table with 6 wins from 6.

Thanks to Bristol Uni for an enjoyable game between well matched teams and played in good spirits throughout.

Man of the Match was shared by Freddie Hazlitt and Matt Way, with Freddie winning on the re-vote for his excellent link play in only his second game for the 1st team.

Dick of the day was "awarded" to Mark Kinder for not feeling the corner of the pitch was watered enough and taking it (literally) into his own hands to do something about it.