Ladies’ 2s beat top-of-the-table Marlow

Marlow 1 - 2 Oxford Hawks 2s

The Ladies 2s travelled to top of the table Marlow, who hadn’t lost a game all season. A win today for Marlow would have secured them the league title (bar some incredible results and a 30 goal swing). However it wasn’t to be Marlow’s day, as the 2s came out fighting and put on a fantastic team performance to win 2-1 in front of a very large and very disappointed Marlow crowd.

Marlow started strongly with their youth and pace causing Hawks all sorts of problems. But nothing that Ninja Trin couldn’t handle, with a string of top class early saves. Hawks settled into the game well, with Bex Oakes on fine form, thoroughly deserving of her Player of the Match award, with some vital interceptions and tackles, as well as her usual pinpoint distribution from the back. The 2s took the lead after 20 minutes when Sandra and Kathryn connected well down the left, ending with Kathryn catching the keeper off guard with a great strike against the sideboard from a tight angle. 1-0 to Hawks. Odders had a nasty fall moments later, which despite being alarming at the time, ended up being a somewhat comical moment where she mumbled something about being 41, which the bemused Marlow player didn't really know how to respond to. Still not sure of the relevance of that comment, but we move on.

It got to half time, and after some words of wisdom from Coach Scragg (ok, Burrowes) who was very kindly stepping in for Wilko at the last minute, the 2s came out composed and ready to go again. We should probably point out that Marlow did miss a couple of sitters at the far post at some point in this half, but it was the 2s who struck next, with Goal-Machine Kathryn Poulter being perfectly positioned on the post for a simple tap in from Bex’s cross. Trin definitely still had plenty to do - in fact the whole back line of Trin, Niamh, Dan and Bex deserve some sort of medal for their performance, as nothing was getting past them. Well, until Marlow pulled one back from a short corner deflection ten minutes from the end. The 2s didn’t panic and continued to play some lovely hockey, with Kathryn coming close to a hat trick after some lovely interplay with Sandra again. Marlow through everything forwards but the 2s held on for a superb win, even more special as it was Flick’s birthday, plus sadly Martha’s last game for the 2s this season. Not a bad one to end on.

Inside for teas, a great selection, up there with the best away teas this season perhaps? Odders can’t have been feeling too hungry though as for some reason was eating hers on a saucer. Maybe blame the knock on the head? Anyway, it was a good end to a very good day at the office, a true example of a top-class team performance that the 2s should all be very proud of.