broken bones, buckets of determination and lots of goals just aren't enough to save the ladies

After a long trip north Marlborough faced tough opposition in second place Newent. The home side needed a win to remain in contention for winning the league and Marlborough needed a win to have a slim hope of avoiding relegation. With so much resting on results outside of their control the pressure was off and Marlborough were going out to cause an upset.

Marlborough started strongly pushing Newent deep into their own half and the forwards movements were quick allowing the wide ball to be picked up and the D attacked. The home side were very much on the back foot but were quick on the attack so Marlborough needed to be careful. This pressure paid off and Marlborough were first on the scoresheet with a very slick penalty routine, Becki Marnane injecting to a waiting Sophie Fynn whose shot was expertly deflected into the net by Rosie Buckley. Marlborough upped the pace of their attacks but a Newent break and a very bubbly ball gave them an easy goal. In the last play before half time a penalty was awarded to Marlborough and Rachel Cox calmly stepped up, wrong footing the goalkeeper, and smashed the ball into the back of the net.

The second half started off in a similar vein to the first with Marlborough mounting increasing pressure on the home side. Another penalty corner and another Marlborough goal with a straight strike from Rachel Jackson scoring her first goal for the club. This third goal seemed to wake Newent and they started showing why they are second in the league. A battle was on! Ness Pickford-Smith took a nasty ball to the knee and Rachel Cox broke a finger but as Marlborough did not have the luxury of any subs both courageously battled on. Marlborough dug deep and fought hard to hold onto their lead but a well drilled corner routine and then after some intense pressure in the visiting sides' D left the score at 3/3. Newent smelt blood but Marlborough were desperate to deny them and get the win themselves so the last 10 minutes was a frantic affair but neither side were able to capitalise.

A courageous and determined performance by a Marlborough team very much on the up but unfortunately an up just too late to stop them being relegated. An up they aim to show Hereford who come to the blue College pitch for the last game of the season on the 2nd April.

Marlborough News Online man of the match was awarded to Rachel Cox well deserved for giving her all even with a broken finger and her fantastic penalty goal.