West Wilts 2 - 1 Marlborough

Marlborough put in a good performance against a strong West Wilts but it wasn't quite enough to see them claim any points. They entered the game full of confidence but knowing that it would be a step up in the challenge after comfortable wins in their recent games.

Marlborough started the game the better of the 2 sides, looking to encourage West WIlts to try and play hopeful passes into their forward line, this worked and resulted in several counter-attacking opportunities for Marlborough, who just weren't able to turn this into the opening goal.

West Wilts started to grow into the game with them retaining possession of the ball well, looking to pull Marlborough out of their shape with quick transfers across the pitch. Despite this neither goal was being particularly threatened until the last 10 minutes of the first half. Rich Holman stepped forward to make an intercept in the right channel and was (harshly) judged to have committed a foul, the free hit was taken quickly and West Wilts were able to convert this overload situation, leaving Aaron Holloway with no chance. It looked as if the lead had been extended to 2-0 when the ball found the back of the net from a West Wilts short corner, however, it was disallowed by the umpire at the opposite end as the ball never left the circle.

At Halftime Marlborough knew they were still very much in the game but needed to break the pattern of West Wilts territorial advantage. The second half turned into a very scrappy affair with 2 green cards for each team for stick tackles as well as players on both sides being very forthcoming with offering the umpires their opinions.

West Wilts had the better of the chances in the second half and probably should have extended their lead before they ultimately did, making it 2-0 when an unintended deflection on the edge of the circle wrong-footed multiple Marlborough defenders and allowed the ball to spin off to the back post where it was put in by their grateful forward.

2 goals behind with only 10 minutes to go Marlborough looked thoroughly up against it. To their credit, they dug in and began to create more attacking opportunities with the game becoming more and more spread out as legs tired on both teams. Marlborough got a goal back with 3 minutes left on the clock when captain Anil Sud danced his way through multiple West Wilts defenders before slotting the ball past the keeper for a superb individual goal.

Marlborough pressed hard in equalising goal but the West Wilts defensive line put in a couple of excellent covering tackles to stop any half chances developing. The final whistle went and West Wilts probably deserved the 3 points on the balance of play but Marlborough definitely left the pitch with a feeling of what might have been if they could have been more clinical in the final 3rd of the ptich.

They move into next weekend looking to get back on track and finish the season strongly in what looks to be a 4 team race to finish in 3rd place.

Man of the Match was awarded to Anil Sud for an excellent performance in the middle of the pitch capped by a stunning goal.

D*** of the day was "awarded" to Mark Ramage for his seemingly never-ending love affair with ALL Umpires...