Draw gives ladies a much needed point.

Match report by Milly Dawson

Marlborough Ladies set out with high hopes of winning this match against Redland . Although they knew that Redlands had a strong side, the ladies where in full knowledge they could come away from Bristol with a good score.

Marlborough started the stronger of the two sides driving forward in numbers and were very unlucky not to score on a number of occasions in the first quarter of an hour. Redland started getting a grip on the game and the first half became a well balanced match seeing the pendulum of play swing several times. Marlborough's pressure paid off with a well executed goal with Rachel Cox driving the ball to Becki Marnane, who then slipped it across the goal to a waiting Catherine Manley. However Redland fought back hard and won a short corner which was blasted into the D and took an unlucky deflection off a Marlborough stick from close range, rocketing past goalie Vicky Moxham. The game took several turns and was played at a frantic pace. The defence of Sarah Kendal, Ness Pickford, Beth Palfrey and Phillippa Brown held firm and the dynamism in midfield of Penny Bowen, Rachel Cox, Sophie Fynn and Rachel Jackson gave a solid platform for the forwards to cause the Redland defence all sorts of problems. The score at half time was 1-1 and Marlborough ladies where ready to fight hard for victory.

Unfortunately, not long after half time, Sarah Kendal took a ball to the foot resulting in a lot of swelling and some tissue damage and had to sit out the rest of the game. This injury then pushed Penny Bowen back into defence where she played very comfortably. Despite this setback, Marlborough took the lead again through a goal side scramble by Becki Marnane and a super set up from forward Rosie Curling. It looked like they would hold on to the lead but a late equaliser from another Redland short corner poured water on the Marlborough celebrations. The ball was driven along the base line and knocked across the goalmouth only for a Redland forward to slip it in on the back post. Despite Marlborough's best efforts in the last 5 minutes they were unable to score another goal. Marlborough had hoped to come away with the full 3 points but 1 point will still help them in their bid to avoid relegation.

Congratulations to both Marlborough News Online payers of the match, Philippa Brown and Rachel Cox!!