Report
Hitchin were making their first visit to The Alfred Davis Memorial Ground since 2011 and that was also in the Southern League. It was all very familiar to me as my father lived in Marlow and was a supporter as well as a groundsman way back in the 1970’s. He would not have been pleased with the anaemic performance from Marlow today.
Team news for the Canaries was that Lewis Franklin was injured with Josh Jackman taking up the full back/ wing back position. Billy Heaps has departed for Hertford Town and Charlie Briggs was back in the heart of defence.
It was a cloudy, windy, chilly afternoon with the rain just about holding off. Hitchin kicked off with the mystifying long ball into touch, almost rugby style, and soon there was a Hitchin attack with North saving well from a Jackman shot. Some aimless long balls from both sides followed until Khalil tried to cut in but soon dispossessed. Hitchin won a corner, taken short, providing Rhiney with a chance but he blasted his effort into the car park.
Jones’ fine diagonal bypass to Jackman set up a chance and the shot came from Tearle on the turn, but wide. Another multi passing move concluded with the offside flag, but it was all Hitchin in terms of attack, and the latest one saw a cross from Jones and a weak header from Brooks.
The lively Callum Kane cut in from he left, and he opened the scoring with a low shot after eleven minutes. He had looked in earnest before getting his name on today’s scoresheet. He continued in the same vein, with Marlow clearing and trying to counter, but they were ineffective so far. Guayu-Kyem tried to make something of a chance, but he was outnumbered.
The next Hitchin attack saw the ball hit the foot of the post, with North beaten and although Rhiney followed up and netted, the goal was ruled offside. We then had a delay whilst North received treatment. A decent attack from Marlow was ably deconstructed and it was Bonfield turn to go down, briefly, with an injury.
Marlow’s next effort saw Ntim lose his way and Kane left a player standing before giving Rhiney a clear shot which was straight at the goalkeeper. The hosts had a free kick wide in the right that was defended by Briggs, and again Ntim lost possession when he needed to pass. Hitchin’s next attack saw some smart passing and emphatic finish from Brooks to give Hitchin a two-goal lead.
The visitors continued with attacking play and soon won a corner, which was well held by North. Nawaf attempted some counter play but ran the ball into touch. Rhiney failed to capitalise on a mistake in the penalty area, but he made up for it by side footing the ball into the net for Hitchin’s third goal after thirty-four minutes. It looked all too easy, but such a lead was very welcome. Jones’ fine long pass to Kane saw another meaningful attack, which was defended. A Hitchin corner followed, in which Coldicott-Stevens did not excel. Then Marlow won their first corner that was ably defended, and I mention here that the hosts were yet to have a shot on goal. They then messed up another effort that saw Rhiney clear on goal, but he was flagged offside.
North did well to prevent a potential own goal, with the claim of a controlled back pass ruled out. We were approaching the interval with some appreciable time added on. With a Brooks assist, Nicolson was well placed to score a clean fourth goal which left Marlow in surely an unassailable position.
At the interval, Marlow officials were nonplussed at their team’s apparent capitulation with the philosophical view that this sort of thing happens occasionally and is inexplicable. However, it was clear that their manager had a bit if a go at the lads in blue because they came out trying. This was helped by the dismissal of Taylor Rhiney for what was violent conduct in an off the ball incident.
Within minutes there were two cautions for Marlow players Oveden and substitute Maudner. A scrappy period of play ensued with no sign of the hosts exploiting their numerical advantage. Then, they did with Maudner making it 4-1 with a crisply taken goal after fiftynine minutes. Brooks then robbed a defender of the ball, but the home defence recovered and cleared. Hitchin’s play, however, had a touch of disinclination about it, but there was one attack that Tearle could not complete with a headed effort. The hosts bagged a corner, but it was of negligible worth.
McDonald then replaced Brooks as Marlow did their best to make the score more respectable. They put on a third substitute in Grant to join Popov and scorer Maudner. Indeed, they were now passing the ball well and looking for openings. Hitchin defended cautiously and did not look like getting a fifth goal. Kane defended well, conceding a corner that was easily defended but Marlow were undaunted and provided attacking options, even if they were undone with consummate ease.
The next Marlow effort was ballooned into the farther regions of the car park. There was another delay as Bonfield received treatment and players milled around the dugouts for water and instructions. Shortly after, Butler came in for Tearle. There were ten minutes or so remaining and it had not been a second half of flowing football. There had been few chances for Hitchin and so far, Marlow might say that they had won the second half, since even with ten men I expected the Canaries to replicate some of their first half dominance in front of goal.
One chance was ruled out for offside and then Kyem connected poorly with a cross when he might have scored. Bell- came on for the closing minutes, replacing Nicolson. The hosts had a free kick in an inviting position but did nothing to excite. McDonald broke away, only to be fouled and JCS took the free kick. It was not the best conclusion to a game, as it was punctuated by fouls and inconclusive moves on goal.
Marlow had a free kick, with a four-man Hitchin wall unnecessary as the effort sailed gaily into the car park. That was the last piece of action, and we welcomed the three points for Hitchin.
After a commanding first half and a four-goal lead, Hitchin, reduced to ten men, were to lose their dominance in the mediocre second half but never looked seriously under threat. They are in ninth position, with five points fewer than leaders Biggleswade Town.
Marlow
Ryan North
Abdallah Khalil
Jacob Wilson
Alex Salmon
Chris Ovenden (C)
Shamar Moore
Naheer Omar Nawaf
Flavio Gyawu-Kyem
Alfie Agar
Kwesi Adu-Gyemfi Ntim
Enrique Ngizafumu Tiamuna
Substitutes:
Henry Mendelssohn (for Khalil)
Harvey Maudner (for Ntim) – GOAL, 59 mins
Cheyce Grant (for Moore)
Nikolay Popov (for Wilson)
Clavin Gitiba (for Tiamuna)
Hitchin Town
Alfie Bonfield
Josh Jackman
Callum Kane – GOAL, 11 mins. Reporter’s MOTM
Blue Joy
Charlie Briggs
Ciaren Jones (C)
Liam Brooks – GOAL, 28 mins
Josh Coldicott-Stevens
Taylor Rhiney – GOAL, 34 mins. RED CARD, 51 mins
Kye Tearle
Callum Nicolson – GOAL, 45 mins
Substitutes:
Cole Butler (for Tearle)
Fernando Bell-Toxtle (for Nicolson)
Charlie McDonald (for Brooks)
George Morrall and Mbunya Alemanji were unused
Referee: Mr C Bullock, assisted by Mr R Maris and Mr C Gustafson.
Attendance: 188
Report by Pipeman.