Top of the table Swindon get a scare and its not even Halloween!

Marlborough 1s 1 Swindon 1s 2

With this being a top of the table against bottom of the table clash and with a number of players unavoidably missing it always going to be a very tough game. However after last weeks draw with Chippenham there was a positive mood in the changing room before the game.
Marlborough came out with purpose and stuck to the game plan with all
players maximising the opportunities they had. Swindon attacked strongly in numbers
and the home team defended well with numerous short corners being
disrupted. Despite Penny Bowen, Catherine Manley and Rachel Cox in midfield working hard to help the defence,
Swindon's first goal eventually came from a ball fired into the D and the
forward taking a low fast deflection past goalkeeper Vicky Moxham. Marlborough tried desperately to even the score before half time but struggled to penetrate the Swindon D, the best chance being a lovely ball in by Rachel Cox straight to Becki Marnane whose deflection narrowly missed the goal.
Having played most of the first half defending, Marlborough began the
2nd half strongly and started to take the game to Swindon with a number
of attacks working their way in to the oppositions goal mouth. Swindon
counter attacked strongly on many occasions but the Marlborough defence worked tirelessly and held firm and goalkeeper Vicky Moxham was called on to make some crucial saves. Unluckily for Marlborough Swindon finally scored their second goal from another close range deflection.The fighting spirit again
kicked in and with some great team play Marlborough started to work their
way back up the pitch, attacking Swindon more and more. The game started to open up with end to end attacks and equal ball possession. Marlborough were finally rewarded with a number of
short corners, one of which resulted in a pass to Penny Bowen whose shot
was calmly deflected in by Rachel Cox. Sensing a draw or win was possible Marlborough piled on the pressure in the last 5 minutes but were unlucky not to be rewarded with a goal.

It was an incredible team performance and shows the potential this new squad has under the guidance of new coach Pete Crook. Swindon did comment after the game how they had expected to beat Marlborough by a cricket score so it is even more commendable to the team how well we played and that we were unlucky not to draw or even get a sneaky win. Watch this space there is so much more to come!!

Marlborough News Online players of the match were Becki Marnane for her incredible selfless running and Beth Palfrey for her tireless defending.