Match Report 29th November
Marlborough Rovers versus Heather Foxes (Cup Match).

A freezing cold morning and a 9 o clock kick off meant everyone looked a bit glum but Matt soon had the boys warmed up. Marlborough’s starting line up was Kieran in goal, Glenn and Jacob in defence, Harry, H and JT in midfield and Dom as striker.

Heather had the better of the early exchanges, pinning us back in our own half. They went just wide of Kieran’s left hand post after a throw had come in deep into our territory. But then we sprang to life Harry feeding the ball to H who calmly squared the ball to Dom who rammed it home 1 – 0 Marlborough Rovers.

From the kick off, Heather went straight back on the attack and there was an almighty goal mouth scramble but we somehow smuggled the ball away to safety. Marlborough’s next attack saw Jacob breaking out of defence to join the midfield and he fed the ball to H. H ran down the right wing and pulled the ball across the face of the goal. Heather cleared it, but Jacob was lying in wait and fired the ball at the goal. The Heather keeper just managed to push the ball around the post.

A long clearance from Heather was missed by Glenn and as the ball ran under his foot the Heather striker latched on to it and shot low and hard. Kieran was very alert blocking it with his legs. Kieran then launched a long kick upfield and H collected the ball on the right side of the field. He beat a player then squared the ball to Dom who lashed it into the roof of the net. 2- 0 Marlborough Rovers. Straight from the kick off the ref blew for a very debateable Heather free-kick. But all credit to the Heather player as he flighted a wonderful ball just inside Kierans right hand post for the last action of the half. Half Time Marlborough Rovers 2 Heather Foxes 1.

We started the second half in a much more positive style and JT worried the Heather keeper with an early strike at goal. Then H broke down the right and pulled the ball back for Harry whose shot went across the face of goal. Another attack down the right saw the ball put into the danger area. JT and Dom both attacked the ball but it broke across for Harry who made no mistake rifling it into the back of the net. Marlborough 3 Heather 1.

Bobby came on for Jacob in defence and Lewis replaced H as we continued in fine form. Harry broke down the right carrying the ball a long distance before the ball was put out for a corner. Dom took it short to Harry who looped a great ball in to the back post. It actually struck the inside of the post and JT followed up to make it 4 -1 from close range.

Jack came on for Harry and immediately went close. Then Lewis worked the ball into Jack’s feet and from 15 yards out he kept his head over the ball, striking it beautifully inside the keepers left post. Marlborough 5 Heather 1. Jack had another shot pushed round the post by the Heather keeper and JT went close from a corner. Glenn’s long range freekick was diverted away for another Marlborough corner and good work down the left by Bobby gave Jack a headed chance.

The last action of the game saw Kieran’s clearance drop into midfield. There was a big gap between our defence and attack and the Heather player was able to collect the ball unchallenged. He then hit a wonderful shot into Kieran’s top right hand corner of the goal. Kieran got his fingertips to the ball but couldn’t claw it out and the game finished Marlborough Rovers 5 Heather Foxes 2

Marlborough Man of the Match – Jack Wardell (awarded by Gary for a superbly taken goal)