January blues for the ladies 1s

After a long lay-off over the festive season and a very soggy training session on Tuesday, Marlborough travelled to Tidworth to play the rearranged fixture against second-placed Bath Buccaneers 3s. With a game in hand, a win would see Marlborough move up to third in the table and would bring them level on points with Buccs, so it was a crucial fixture for both teams.
Marlborough started the better team, stringing together a series of good passes and testing the Buccs defence early on. Within the first 10 minutes, Marlborough earned themselves a short corner which was converted from the right slip position by Janeve Beer, whose strike was deflected into the goal off the stick of a Buccs defender. Unfortunately, Marlborough couldn’t hold onto this lead and within minutes, Buccs had drawn back level following an impressive show of individual skill in the D from their left forward. This rattled Marlborough, and within minutes, Buccs had put away a second, slotted away by an unmarked forward from a solid right-hand cross.
Marlborough could have crumbled at this point, but to their credit they dug deep and took the game back to Buccs. With dangerous breaks in midfield from Sophie Fynn, Jess Davis and Alice Thompson and excellent ball distribution from centre-half Rachel Cox, Marlborough looked the better team for the remainder of the half and were unlucky not to score on a number of occasions.
Marlborough went into the second half eager to draw level at the earliest opportunity. They opened confidently, transferring the ball quickly around the back through fullbacks Beth Palfrey, Amy Davidson and Annabel Ashley and waiting patiently for an opening in the Buccs defence. The openings quickly came, and for almost 35 minutes, Marlborough forwards threw everything they had at the Buccs defensive line. Bella Busby and Milly Dawson worked tirelessly off the ball and Alice Fanshawe looked particularly threatening, making some excellent D entries to earn a number of short corners. Deflections went wide, goal-mouth scrambles were cleared away and shots were saved time and time again by an on-form Buccs keeper. Still no goal came.
Buccs had a number of counter-attacks as they looked to increase their score line, but the defensive line of Emily Carter Davies, Anna Scott and goalie Vicky Moxham looked composed throughout the game, and with nothing really troubling their defensive D. With 15 minutes to go, Rachel Cox took a serious tumble resulting in a torn ankle ligament; we wish her a speedy recovery and will miss her input hugely. The injury ‘time-out’ rattled Marlborough and Buccs capitalised on their lack of composure, but still the 2-1 deadlock could not be broken. In the dying seconds, Marlborough earned yet another short corner, but sadly could not convert. Despite territory and possession wildly against them, Buccs returned to Bath with 3 points in the bag, and Marlborough left with nothing to show for their considerable efforts.
A disappointing result, yet there were lots of positives to draw from the game and the Green Army travel to top of the table Chippenham next week undeterred and ready for battle.
For her significant work rate, attacking runs and heroic efforts in the D, Alice Fanshawe was awarded Marlborough News Online man of the match.