Marlow Youth (10/02/2002)
2001 - 2002 Season, Hithercroft Under 15s



The ground was in quite reasonable condition considering the recent rainfall and the weather for this match was dry, cool and sunny. Because of a colour clash Hithercroft played in yellow shirts.

The opening six minutes saw shots missed by both teams, Hithercroft’s shots being wide of the mark and Marlow’s shot being lifted over the bar when Phil Lines got his right foot to their on-target attempt. Then Shahid Ahmed played a good through-ball to Jason Guy, who took it on and put it wide of the Marlow keeper to open the scoring. Then followed a couple of attacks by the visitors which culminated in a ball being played across the goalmouth by the No. 13 for Daniel Birch to hammer into the net to bring the teams level again after 13 minutes. Within a minute Dan Collier played a high shot from some way out and it dropped over Phil’s head and just under the crossbar to put Marlow 2-1 ahead. Hithercroft then mounted a series of attacks but, in most cases, the finishing was not on target. After 29 minutes of the half Riccardo Falconi played a long ball down the middle for Dewayne Dublin to gather, take to his right and then slot past the keeper to bring the score level again at 2-2. Riccardo then played a through-ball to Adeel Iqbal who pushed it through to Jason but his resulting shot went just over the bar. Riccardo again played a long ball down the middle towards Dewayne Dublin and Jason, which Jason gathered and lofted over the keeper to score Hithercroft’s third on 35 minutes.

One minute into the second half Hithercroft took the ball down the left wing and it was croosed infield to Jason who played the ball back across goal for Richard Sunderland to score his first goal of the season. Shahid Ahmed then had a shot which just curled outside the post and Duane White’s shot, which followed a Marlow clearance, went just wide. Jason then went down the right wing and sent the ball across the face of the goal but there was no supporting players near enough to put the ball into the net. Then Marlow’s Daniel Birch had a shot, forcing Phil to punch the ball back out and it fell to Dan Collier to hammer his second goal home after 26 minutes of the half, bringing the score to 4-3. Two minutes lates Jason took the ball from within his own half, ran down the right wing and, from an acute angle, hit the ball through the narrow gap between the goalkeeper and the right-hand post to restore Hithercroft’s 2-goal lead. Marlow’s next foray was foiled when Phil raced out to and dived to gather the ball from the attacker’s feet just as he entered the penalty area. Three minutes before the final whistle a Hithercroft corner resulted in a goalmouth scramble with shots being blocked left, right and centre before Shane Globe eventually put the ball home, making the final score 6-3 in favour of the home team.

The game was very much a to-and-fro game but with Hithercroft having most of the shooting opportunities. Before this game Hithercroft were 5th in the Division with Marlow one place higher on goal difference and so this result was just what Hithercroft needed.


Hithercroft’s goals were scored by Jason Guy (3), Dewayne Dublin, Richard Sunderland and Shane Globe.

Marlow’s goals were scored by Dan Collier (2) and Daniel Birch.

Marlow's 'Man of the Match' was Will Kenyon.