AFC Marlow took on a tricky Hithercroft Reserves side this morning at Gossmore Recreation Ground, Marlow. With Robbie Morton returning to the side, there was also a first call up for right back Tom Verity after Lee Putnam pulled out this morning.
AFC Marlow kicked off in a 4-2-3-1 formation which saw Dean Oxlade and Robbie Morton play in a centre defensive midfield role with Jonny Watts playing from the right, Richard Vere played in the free role and Jamie Piekielniak played in his normal position from the left with league top goal scorer James Turner up top.
Hithercroft took an early lead when an AFC Marlow player struggled to clear the ball and Hithercroft scored from the resulting cross. This rattled the AFC Marlow lads which in return saw the blues playing some nice passing football. 5 minutes after Hithercroft took the lead Jonny Watts brought us level with a left footed strike from just outside the area on his left foot found the bottom corner. It stayed 1-1 till half time.
10 minutes into the second half AFC Marlow were forced into 2 changes which saw both left sided centre back Jake Saunders come off and left back Michael Skeath pulled up with an ankle injury, they were replaced by Adam brooks and Tom Verity who made his first appearance for the club. Richard Vere dropped into the centre back role which saw Jonny Watts more into the free role and adam brooks take up his normal right mid position.
AFC Marlow then took the lead when Jamie Piekielniak smashed home a goal mouth scramble again after Hithercroft failed to clear from a corner,2-1 AFC Marlow. Hithercroft pushed for an equaliser when Adam Brook's forced one of their player's into a mistake and put James Turner in behind the defence, the striker unselfishly set up Piekielniak for a tap in which was the player's 15th goal of the season and the clubs 50th league goal. 3-1 AFC Marlow.
Dean Oxlade was then replaced by James Mckechnie. Hithercroft then gave themselves hope when a failed back heel from an AFC Marlow player was intercepted, Hithercroft broke on the counter attack and Adam Toms coolly brought Hithercroft back into the game. AFC Marlow saw out the remaining 10 minutes in a 4-3-3 formation to keep the clubs 100% record going in March. Man of the match today was awarded to Robbie Morton for his constant running and keeping Hithercroft's midfielder and playmaker Adam Toms at bay.
